The consumer surplus at the optimal consumption level is $3.50.
Total consumer surplus at the optimal consumption level represents the overall economic benefit that consumers gain when they purchase a product or service at the equilibrium price. This is the difference between what they are willing to pay and what they actually pay.
To get this, we will find the area between the demand curve and the price line at the optimal consumption level.
Given data: The optimal consumption level is 4 cheeseburgers at a price of $2.
Total expenditure = Price * Quantity
= $2 * 4
= $8.
Total valuation = Valuation of 1 + Valuation of 2 + Valuation of 3 + Valuation of 4
= $4 + $3 + $2.50 + $2
= $11.50
Consumer surplus = Total valuation - Total expenditure
= $11.50 - $8
= $3.50.