Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Economics

Chapter

Micro Economics: Production and Costs

Question:

At zero output, which of the following cost is undefined?

Options:

short run average cost (SAC)

short run marginal cost (SMC)

average fixed cost (AFC)

all of the above

Correct Answer:

all of the above

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option 4: all of the above

At zero output (Q = 0), we analyze the behavior of each cost function:

1️⃣ Short-Run Average Cost (SAC)

  • SAC = TC / Q (Total Cost divided by output)
  • Since Total Cost (TC) = TFC + TVC, and at Q = 0, TC = TFC (as TVC is zero), dividing by zero makes SAC undefined.

2️⃣ Short-Run Marginal Cost (SMC) = ΔTC / ΔQ

  • Marginal cost measures the change in total cost when output increases.
  • If output is zero, the change in output (ΔQ) is also zero, making SMC undefined.

3️⃣ Average Fixed Cost (AFC)

  • AFC = TFC / Q
  • TFC is positive even at zero output, and dividing by zero results in infinity, which means AFC is undefined.