A consumer with monotonic preferences says that the bundles P (6 bananas, 9 mangoes) and Q (8 bananas, x mangoes) lie on the same indifference curve. Which value of x is possible?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 7
Bundle Q has more bananas than P. To stay on the same indifference curve, it must have fewer mangoes, so x must be less than 9. Only 7 fits.
Under monotonic preferences, each of the other values would make Q preferred to P, so Q would lie on a higher curve.
Option (1) 9 — Q would have more bananas and the same mangoes.
Option (3) 12 — Q would have more of both goods.
Option (4) 10 — Q would have more of both goods.
NCERT (2026-27): “1. Indifference curve slopes downwards from left to right: An indifference curve slopes downwards from left to right, which means that in order to have more of bananas, the consumer has to forego some mangoes. If the consumer does not forego some mangoes with an increase in number of bananas, it will mean consumer having more of bananas with same number of mangoes, taking her to a higher indifference curve. Thus, as long as the consumer is on the same indifference curve, an increase in bananas must be compensated by a fall in quantity of mangoes.” “Monotonic Preferences Consumer’s preferences are assumed to be such that between any two bundles (x1, x2) and (y1, y2), if (x1, x2) has more of at least one of the goods and no less of the other good compared to (y1, y2), then the consumer prefers (x1, x2) to (y1, y2). Preferences of this kind are called monotonic preferences. …” |