Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A small factory in Leeds makes bicycle helmets. The cost of making helmets in one day is
Find the marginal cost when . Then find the actual extra cost of making the 51st helmet, and compare the two.
The derivative is the rate of change of with respect to , in units of per unit of . For a particle, and . The marginal cost is .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The derivative. .
Step 2. The marginal cost. pounds per helmet.
Step 3. The actual extra cost. pounds, which is pounds to the nearest penny.
Check. The two numbers agree, because one helmet is a small change in .
Answer: the marginal cost is pounds per helmet, and the 51st helmet costs about pounds more.
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