Utility
Utility: the want-satisfying power of a commodity for a consumer
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Open interactive chapter quizzesUtility: the want-satisfying power of a commodity for a consumer
Cardinal utility: the approach that assumes utility can be measured numerically in units such as utils
Total utility: the total satisfaction obtained from consuming all units of a commodity
Marginal utility: the change in total utility caused by consuming one additional unit of a commodity
Law of diminishing marginal utility: as consumption of a commodity increases, marginal utility tends to decline, other things remaining the same
TU–MU relation while MU is positive: total utility rises as long as marginal utility remains positive
TU maximum when MU is zero: total utility reaches its maximum when marginal utility becomes zero
TU falls when MU is negative: negative marginal utility reduces total utility
Single-commodity consumer equilibrium: the consumer is in equilibrium when marginal utility in money terms equals the price, subject to diminishing marginal utility
Law of equi-marginal utility: with several goods, satisfaction is maximised by allocating expenditure so marginal utility per rupee is equal across goods
Utility. Utility: the want-satisfying power of a commodity for a consumer
Cardinal utility. Cardinal utility: the approach that assumes utility can be measured numerically in units such as utils
Total utility. Total utility: the total satisfaction obtained from consuming all units of a commodity
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