Question

(a) Consider the “total” function in the top graph, and

(b) Sketch the shape of the corresponding “marginal” function in the bottom graph.

Answer 1

Let marginal product be MP , Total product be TP and unit of output be x.

Then marginal product is given by MP=dTP/dx

For drawing the marginal function from total function, the change in shape of total function with each unit of output is taken into consideration. If total function is increasing at an increasing rate , marginal function is upward rising. If total function is increasing at a diminishing rate, marginal curve slopes downward. When total product is decreasing or its slope is negative, marginal function becomes negative i.e., it moves into negative Y-axis. The marginal curves are shown in the given diagram.