Answer to Question #275332 in Microeconomics for Helen

Question #275332

Robinson's preferences between apples (a) and bananas (b) are expressed by the following:

 

U = (a+2)0.5(b+1)0.5

 

(a) Show that Robinson's indifference curves are negatively sloped.

(b) Are they convex to the origin? Explain.


1
Expert's answer
2021-12-06T16:38:02-0500

Robinson's interference curves


a.) From U = U = (a + 2)0.5 ∗(b+ 1)0.5

Totally differentiating the utility function

"du=\\frac{\\delta}{\\delta a}[(a+2)^{0.5}(b+1)^{0.5}da]+\\frac{\\delta}{\\delta b}[(a+2)^{0.5}(b+1)^{0.5}db]"


"du=0.5(a+2)^{-0.5}(b+1)^{0.5}da+0.5(a+2)^{0.5}(b+1)^{-0.5}db"


along an indifference curve change in utility du=0

Also we may apply (a) along horizontal axis hence,

"0.5(a+2)^{-0.5}(b+1)^{0.5}da+0.5(a+2)^{0.5}(b+1)^{-0.5}db=0"


"\\frac{da}{db}=\\frac{0.5(a+2)^{0.5}(b+1)^{-0.5}}{0.5(a+2)^{-0.5}(b+1)^{0.5}}=\\frac{a+2}{b+1}"


"\\frac{da}{db}= slope \\ of\\ indifference"


"=MRS_{a,b }" [Nominal rate of substitution between a and b]

As, "MRS_{a,b } \\lt0" implies robinsons indifference curve is negatively sloped







b.) Now "|MRS_{a,b }|=\\frac{a+2}{b+1}=\\frac{a}{b+1}+\\frac{2}{b+1}"


Now "\\frac{\\delta |MRS_{a,b }|}{\\delta a}=\\frac{1}{b+1}\\gt0 \\ as\\ b\\gt0"

hence they are convex to the origin


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