Question

Explain the law of DMU and its assumptions with the help of a mathematical schedule

and graphical illustration.​

Answer 1

Answer:

What is the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility?

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility states that the additional utility gained from an increase in consumption decreases with each subsequent increase in the level of consumption. Marginal Utility is the change in total utility due to a one-unit change in the level of consumption. The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility states the marginal utility gradually decreases with the level of consumption.

 



 

Total Utility vs. Marginal Utility

Total Utility is an aggregate measure of satisfaction gained from consumption whereas Marginal Utility is a measure of the change in satisfaction gained from consumption as a result of a change in consumption.

 

MU(x) = TU(x) – TU(x – 1)

 

The Marginal Utility gained from the xth unit of consumption is equal to the difference between the total utility gained from x units of consumption and the total utility gained from x–1 units of consumption.

 

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility – An Analogy

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility is best understood through an analogy. Consider the following example:

John is extremely hungry and goes to a restaurant that offers a buffet. He loads up his plate with food and starts eating. The amount of satisfaction gained by John from a plate of food is directly proportional to John’s hunger level. Therefore, the first plate of food will give John more satisfaction (utility) than the second plate of food, which in turn will give John more satisfaction than the third plate of food.

The situation above occurs because each plate of food reduces John’s hunger level. The reduction in hunger level results in less satisfaction from the plate of food being consumed. Each plate of food fills John up and thus lessens the amount of satisfaction he will get from the plates of food that follow. Mathematically, it can be represented by the following table:

 



 

Graphical Representation of the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility