Questions: Demand: Thinking Like a Buyer - End of Chapter Problem
The marginal benefit received for each gallon of gasoline consumed per week for Ang, Tony, and Gianna are provided in the accompanying table.
a. On the first graph, move the points to plot an individual demand curve for each person.
b. Assuming there are only these three people in the market, graph the market demand curve for gasoline on the second graph. Move each of the points of the market demand curve provided to plot the appropriate market demand according to the dataset provided. Round down to the nearest price per gallon for each consumer.
Gallons consumed per week Ang's marginal benefit Tony's marginal benefit Gianna's marginal benefit
------------
1 7 4 8
2 5 3 6
3 3 2 4
4 1 1
Transcript text: Demand: Thinking Like a Buyer - End of Chapter Problem
The marginal benefit received for each gallon of gasoline consumed per week for Ang, Tony, and Gianna are provided in the accompanying table.
a. On the first graph, move the points to plot an individual demand curve for each person.
b. Assuming there are only these three people in the market, graph the market demand curve for gasoline on the second graph. Move each of the points of the market demand curve provided to plot the appropriate market demand according to the dataset provided. Round down to the nearest price per gallon for each consumer.
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|}
\hline \begin{tabular}{c}
Gallons \\
consumed \\
per week
\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c}
Ang's \\
marginal \\
benefit
\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c}
Tony's \\
marginal \\
benefit
\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c}
Gianna's \\
marginal \\
benefit
\end{tabular} \\
\hline 1 & $\$ 7$ & $\$ 4$ & $\$ 8$ \\
\hline 2 & $\$ 5$ & $\$ 3$ & $\$ 6$ \\
\hline 3 & $\$ 3$ & $\$ 2$ & $\$ 4$ \\
\hline 4 & $\$ 1$ & $\$ 1$ & $\$ \$$ \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Individual Demand Curves
The individual demand curves are plotted by matching the quantity of gallons consumed per week (x-axis) with the marginal benefit (price) they receive (y-axis). For example, Ang's demand curve will have points at (1, $7), (2, $5), (3, $3), and (4, $1). Similarly, for Tony: (1, $4), (2, $3), (3, $2), (4, $1). And for Gianna: (1, $8), (2, $6), (3, $4), and (4, $2).
Step 2: Market Demand Curve at Price $7
At a price of $7 or higher, only Ang would buy 1 gallon. So, the market demand at $7 is 1 gallon.
Step 3: Market Demand Curve at Price $6
At a price of $6, Ang would buy 2 gallons (since her marginal benefit at 2 gallons is $5, which is less than $6), and Gianna would buy 1 gallon. This gives a total market demand of 3 gallons at a price of $6.
Final Answer
Individual curves are plotted based on the table. The market demand curve starts at (1, $7), then goes to (3, $6)... The final plotted market demand curve would have points at (1,$7), (3,$6), (6,$5), (7,$4), (8,$3), (10,$2) and (12,$1).