Total Utility Curve #utility#types#marginalutility

Economics at a glance by Shruti3 minutes read

Total utility is the sum of all units of a commodity consumed, with an example using chocolate to illustrate the concept. The text emphasizes the law of diminishing marginal utility, stating that as total utility increases with consumption, there comes a point where marginal utility decreases, leading to maximum satisfaction for the consumer.

Insights

  • Total utility is the sum of all units of a commodity consumed, while marginal utility represents the increase in total utility from consuming an additional unit of the commodity, as exemplified with chocolate.
  • The law of diminishing marginal utility is crucial, indicating that as total utility rises, marginal utility eventually declines, emphasizing the significance of comprehending both total and marginal utility in economic frameworks, as demonstrated through college semester scenarios.

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Recent questions

  • What is total utility?

    The total utility is the sum of all units of a commodity consumed, representing the overall satisfaction or benefit derived from consuming those units. It is calculated by adding up the utility gained from each unit consumed.

  • What is marginal utility?

    Marginal utility refers to the increase in total utility that results from consuming one additional unit of a commodity. It measures the change in satisfaction or benefit obtained from consuming that extra unit.

  • What is the law of diminishing marginal utility?

    The law of diminishing marginal utility states that as a consumer consumes more units of a commodity, the additional satisfaction or benefit gained from each additional unit decreases. Eventually, there comes a point where the marginal utility diminishes to the extent that it may even become negative.

  • How does total utility relate to marginal utility?

    Total utility is the cumulative satisfaction or benefit derived from consuming all units of a commodity, while marginal utility measures the additional satisfaction gained from consuming one more unit. Understanding both concepts is crucial in economic models to analyze consumer behavior and preferences.

  • Can you provide an example of total utility and marginal utility in action?

    Sure, let's consider a scenario where a person is eating chocolate. The total utility would be the overall satisfaction they get from consuming all the chocolate bars. Marginal utility, on the other hand, would be the extra satisfaction gained from eating one more chocolate bar. As the person consumes more chocolate bars, the total utility may increase, but the marginal utility is likely to decrease due to the law of diminishing marginal utility.

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Summary

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Understanding Total and Marginal Utility in Economics

  • Total utility is the sum of all units of a commodity consumed, with an example using chocolate to illustrate the concept, where the total utility is calculated as 123, and marginal utility is explained as the increase in total utility from consuming an additional unit of the commodity.
  • The text emphasizes the law of diminishing marginal utility, stating that as total utility increases with consumption, there comes a point where marginal utility decreases, leading to maximum satisfaction for the consumer. Examples from college semesters are used to illustrate this concept, highlighting the importance of understanding both total utility and marginal utility in economic models.
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