Activity (Process)

Expressing Optimal Utility in Terms of a Single Variable

A method to simplify the calculation of the utility level at an optimal choice. This process involves using one of the optimality conditions, derived from the system of simultaneous equations, to substitute for one of the choice variables within the utility function. This substitution eliminates a variable, such as optimal consumption cc^*, allowing the maximum utility to be expressed as a function of the remaining variable, like optimal free time tt^*. For example, given a utility function u=(c+600)tu=(c^*+600)t^* and an optimality condition c+600=wtc^*+600=wt^*, the maximum utility can be rewritten as u=w(t)2u = w(t^*)^2.

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Updated 2026-05-02

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