Question

The price of Pencils sell for 10 cents and pens sell for 50 cents. Suppose​ Jack, whose preferences satisfy all of the basic​ assumptions, buys 5 pens and one pencil each semester. With this consumption​ bundle, his MRS of pencils for pens is 3. Which of the following is​ true? A. Jack is at a corner solution and is maximizing his utility. B. Jack could increase his utility by buying fewer pencils and fewer pens. C. Jack could increase his utility by buying more pencils and fewer pens. D. Jack could increase his utility by buying more pens and fewer pencils. E. Jack could increase his utility by buying more pencils and more pens. good A goes up. As a​ result, the demand for good B shifts to the left. From​ this, we can infer that A. goods A and B are complements. B. good A is used to produce good B. C. good B is used to produce good A. D. goods A and B are substitutes. E. none of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is C: Jack could increase his utility by buying more pencils and fewer pens.

Step-by-step explanation:

The marginal rate of substitution or MRS is defined as the rate at which one gives up a reasonable amount of one product to exchange for another products, and still maintains the same utility level. For Jack to maintain the same level of utility, he needs to more pencil and fewer pens to maintain an equilibrium in his purchase of pens and pencils.