WAEC Economics Past Questions & Answers - Page 107

531.

The law of diminishing marginal utility applies to a

A.

Firm which minimizes cost

B.

Consumer who maximizes satisfaction

C.

Producer who maximizes marginal product

D.

Consumer who minimizes total utility

Correct answer is B

The law of diminishing marginal utility states that the marginal utility of a good or service declines as its consumption increases. This means that, as a consumer keeps consuming additional units of a commodity, the additional satisfaction derived will keep decreasing (goods become less valuable as you continue consuming more of it)

532.

Why is the law of diminishing returns a short run phenomenon?

A.

All inputs are fixed

B.

All inputs are variable

C.

Some outputs are variable

D.

Some inputs are variable

Correct answer is A

The law of diminishing returns states that as an increasing amount of a variable factor is added to a fixed factor, the marginal product of the variable factor may at first rise but must eventually fall.

The law of diminishing returns applies in the short run because only then is some factor fixed. 

533.

If a particular consumer derives total utility of 22 utils having consumed 4 units of a given product, his average utility will be

A.

88 utils

B.

18 utils

C.

5.5 utils

D.

3.5 utils

Correct answer is C

Average utility will be the total utility derived form the consumption of a commodity divided by the number of units consumed. Thus we have;

22 ÷ 4 = 5.5 utils

534.

Given the demand function Qd = 20 - 1/ 2P. What is Qd when P is $12?

A.

6 units

B.

10 units

C.

12 units

D.

14 units

Correct answer is D

No explanation has been provided for this answer.

535.

The allocation of goods and services in a free market economy is performed by

A.

The price system

B.

The banking system

C.

The central planning body

D.

Government budgets

Correct answer is A

In a free market economy, the price mechanism regulates production and labor. Companies sell goods and services at the highest price consumers are willing to pay while workers earn the highest wages companies are willing to pay for their services.