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The marginal cost curve intersects the average cost curve exactly at the bottom of the average cost curve—which occurs at a quantity of 72 and cost of $6.60 in Figure 1. The reason why the intersection occurs at this point is built into the economic meaning of marginal and average costs.
What is the marginal cost curve intersects?
The marginal cost curve intersects both the average variable cost curve and (short-run) average total cost curve at their minimum points. When the marginal cost curve is above an average cost curve the average curve is rising.
When the marginal cost curve intersects the average total cost curve?
The marginal cost curve always intersects the average total cost curve at its lowest point because the marginal cost of making the next unit of output will always affect the average total cost. As a result, so long as marginal cost is less than average total cost, average total cost will fall.
What happens when marginal cost intersects average variable cost?
When the marginal unit costs more than the average, the average has to increase. By definition, then, the MC curve intersects the AVC curve at the minimum point on the AVC curve. At the intersection, MC and AVC are equal. If you flip the AVC and MC curves over, they become APL and MP curves.
What is total cost curve?
TOTAL COST CURVE: A curve that graphically represents the relation between the total cost incurred by a firm in the short-run production of a good or service and the quantity produced. The total cost curve is a cornerstone upon which the analysis of short-run production is built.
Why does MC cuts ATC at its minimum?
When the MC is smaller the AC, the AC decreases. This is because when the extra unit of output is cheaper than the average cost then the AC is pulled down. Similarly, when the MC is greater than the AC, the AC is pulled up. The point of intersection between the MC and AC curves is also the minimum of the AC curve.
Which cost curve is horizontal?
The graph of total fixed cost is simply a horizontal line since total fixed cost is constant and not dependent on output quantity.
