Consider the last purchase of two goods by a consumer. A bag of chips costs $1.75 and the marginal utility is 20. A cup of chili costs $2.50. What must the marginal utility of chili be for the consumer to maximize total utility

The marginal utility of chili must be 28.57 for the consumer to maximize total utility.

Explanation:

The marginal utility of chili at which the consumer maximizes total utility can be calculated as follows:

Let:

CCHIP = Cost of a bag of chips = $1.75

MUCHIP = Marginal utility of a bag of chips = 20

CCHILI = Cost of a cup of chili = $2.50

MUCHILI = Marginal utility of a cup of Chili = ?

The condition for the utility maximization of the consumer is as follows:

MUCHIP / CCHIP = MUCHILI / CCHILI ……………………………. (1)

Substituting all the relevant values into equation (1) and solve for MUCHILI, we have:

20 / 1.75 = MUCHILI / 2.50

(20 / 1.75) * 2.50 = MUCHILI

MUCHILI = 28.57

Therefore, the marginal utility of chili must be 28.57 for the consumer to maximize total utility.