Multiple Choice

 

1.   The time value of money tells you that

 

a.    a dollar received in the future is worth less than a dollar received today.

b.   a given dollar amount today is equivalent to a smaller dollar amount in the future.

c.    charging interest on a loan is not fair.

d.   the opportunity cost of loaning money is equal to the interest rate.

e.    the opportunity cost should not always be considered when performing a cost-benefit analysis.

 

2.   A sunk cost is

 

a.    the value of money sunk into an investment.

b.   beyond recovery at the moment a decision must be made.

c.    important to consider when conducting cost-benefit analysis.

d.   equal to the opportunity cost when the interest rate is zero.

e.    the same as a marginal cost.

 

3.   When deciding whether to pursue an activity further, which of the following costs are relevant?

 

a.    sunk costs

b.   marginal costs

c.    average costs

d.   total costs

e.    fixed costs

 

4.   A cost that does not vary with the level of activity is called a(n)

 

a.    average cost

b.   marginal cost

c.    sunk cost

d.   variable cost

e.    fixed cost

 

5.   To allocate resources efficiently across different activities, each unit of the resource should be allocated to the activity in which its ___________ is highest.

 

a.    marginal cost

b.   average cost

c.    marginal benefit

d.   average benefit

e.    total benefit

 

6.   You are currently registered (and have paid) to take 4 classes next semester.  In which case is the cost of taking an additional class a sunk cost?

 

a.    You only need one more class to graduate.

b.   You pay $250/hour for classes.

c.    The cost of an additional class is $1000 regardless of the number of hours.

d.   You pay $6000/semester for full time tuition (4 - 6 classes).

e.    You plan to drop the class and receive a tuition refund.

 

7.   You bought season tickets to football games at your university for $240.  There are 6 home games during the season.  After attending the first 5 games of the season, you know that you absolutely hate going to football games.  You are deciding whether to go to the game or skip it.  Your opportunity cost of skipping the game is

 

a.    $0

b.   $40

c.    $48

d.   $240

e.    infinite

 

8.   You have paid $10 to eat dinner at an all-you-can-eat buffet.  You should continue eating until

 

a.    you have finished eating "seconds."

b.   the benefit you receive from additional food equals $10.

c.    you have eaten all that you can.

d.   you minimize the average cost of food.

e.    the benefit from additional food equals 0.

 

9.   You have just received a cash payment of $1,000.  You want to spend part of it, but need to save part of it for next year's tuition payment.  How much would you have to put in a savings account today to have the $500 tuition payment a year from now if the interest rate is 5%?

 

a.    471.43

b.   455.55

c.    476.19

d.   495

e.    500

 

10.         If you loan a friend $1,000 for a year when you could have invested it and earned 15% interest for the year, what is the opportunity cost of making the loan?

 

a.    471.43

b.   455.55

c.    476.19

d.   495

e.    500

 

 

Problems/Short Answer

 

1.   Joining the YMCA requires a $100 membership fee and $50 per month membership dues.  Use this information to answer each of the following questions.

 

 

a.  The average cost per month of joining the YMCA for 2 years.

b.  The marginal cost of an additional month's membership after 2 years.

c.  If your reservation price for a 25th month's membership is $54, should you continue your membership for a month after 2 years?

 

2.   You decide to spend your spare time selling t-shirts with your college logo at events on campus for a month.  To do this, you buy a machine for $250, 100 blank t-shirts (for $4.50 each) and 100 logos to put on the t-shirts (for $1.00 each).  Based on this information, answer each of the following.

 

a.    What are your total costs, total fixed costs, total variable costs and average cost per   t-shirt?

b.   If selling t-shirts for the month requires quitting your college bookstore job (where you earn $500 per month), what is your opportunity cost of selling t-shirts?  How much would you have to sell all your t-shirts for in a month for it to be an efficient choice?