Consider the table below, which captures relevant data for some firm.

Number of Workers Output Fixed Cost Variable Cost
0 0 $15 $0
1 100 $15 $30
2 180 $15 $60
3 240 $15 $90
4 280 $15 $120
5 300 $15 $150

What is the marginal product of the fifth worker?

Question

Consider the table below, which captures relevant data for some firm.

Number of Workers	Output 	Fixed Cost	Variable Cost
0	0	$15	$0
1	100	$15	$30
2	180	$15	$60
3	240	$15	$90
4	280	$15	$120
5	300	$15	$150

What is the marginal product of the fifth worker?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Marginal product is defined as the change in total output resulting from a one-unit increase in an input, here labor. The relevant concept is MP = ΔQ / ΔL, where ΔQ is the change in output and ΔL is the change in number of workers (ΔL = 1 when adding one worker). Fixed and variable costs are given but not needed to compute marginal product.

Step-by-step reasoning with the table’s outputs:
- Output with 0 workers = 0
- Output with 1 worker = 100
- Output with 2 workers = 180
- Output with 3 workers = 240
- Output with 4 workers = 280
- Output with 5 workers = 300

Calculate the marginal product of the fifth worker:
- ΔQ = Q(5) − Q(4) = 300 − 280
- ΔL = 5 − 4 = 1
- MP5 = ΔQ / ΔL = (300 − 280) / 1 = 20 units

Intermediate differences for clarity (MP for each additional worker):
- MP1 = 100 − 0 = 100 units
- MP2 = 180 − 100 = 80 units
- MP3 = 240 − 180 = 60 units
- MP4 = 280 − 240 = 40 units
- MP5 = 300 − 280 = 20 units

Why the correct answer is correct: The fifth worker increases total output from 280 to 300, an increase of 20 units; by definition that increase is the marginal product of the fifth worker.

Why other options are incorrect:
- $30: This looks like the increment in variable cost per worker ($30 per worker), not a measure of output (and it’s in dollars, not units).
- 60 units: That is the marginal product of the third worker (240 − 180), not the fifth.
- 300 units: That is total output with five workers, not the marginal (incremental) output contributed by the fifth worker.

Final confirmation: Marginal product of the fifth worker = 20 units (matches the provided answer).

Consider the table below, which captures relevant data for some firm. Number of Workers Output Fixed Cost Variable Cost 0 0 $15 $0 1 100 $15 $30 2 180 $15 $60 3 240 $15 $90 4 280 $15 $120 5 300 $15 $150 What is the marginal product of the fifth worker?单项选择题

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