Final answer:
The required square footage for each additional practitioner in a cosmetology setting relates to diminishing marginal productivity, which observes that after a certain point, each additional worker contributes less and may even hinder productivity if the space becomes too crowded.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question related to how many square feet are needed for each additional practitioner (Cosmetologist) is linked to the area of Business Management and Economics, specifically looking into the concept of diminishing marginal productivity. It can be understood through the example of a one-man barber shop that experiences increased productivity when a second barber is added, due to reduced disruptions and greater division of labor. However, as more barbers are hired, the marginal increase in productivity decreases, and may eventually lead to negative returns if the workspace becomes overcrowded, as evidenced in the last row of Table 7.9 where output actually starts to decrease. This illustrates the pattern of diminishing returns seen in businesses as they scale up their workforce. To determine the additional square footage necessary for each new cosmetologist, one would need to consider the available space, existing layout, and the tasks performed by each professional to ensure efficiency and avoid negative returns.