Suppose that XYZ Company hires labor and capital in competitive input markets. Assume that labor costs $200 per day and that a unit of capital costs $150 per day. At the current level of production, labor's marginal product is 40 units of output produced per day and capital's marginal product is 30 units of output per day. a) Given the information provided, is the firm minimizing the cost of current production? Explain why or why not.
b) If the daily wages were to increase, explain the long run adjustments that the firm would likely make in response to the wage increase.

Bandar industries berhad of malaysia manufactures sporting equipment. one of the company’s products, a football helmet for the north american market, requires a special plastic. during the quarter ending june 30, the company manufactured 35,000 helmets, using 22,500 kilograms of plastic. the plastic cost the company $171,000. according to the standard cost card, each helmet should require 0.6 kilograms of plastic, at a cost of $8 per kilogram. 1. what is the standard quantity of kilograms of plastic (sq) that is allowed to make 35,000 helmets? 2. what is the standard materials cost allowed (sq x sp) to make 35,000 helmets? 3. what is the materials spending variance? 4. what is the materials price variance and the materials quantity variance?