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(3) Locations of Transfer-Oriented Firms Assume the distance between the resourc

ID: 1138489 • Letter: #

Question

(3) Locations of Transfer-Oriented Firms Assume the distance between the resource (R) and the market (M) is 10 miles. A firm's procurement cost is given by PC-x2, where x is the distance from the resource measured in miles. The firm's distribution cost is given by DC 100-0.5x2. Again, x is the distance from the resource. (a) What is the Total Freight Cost at each milestone (i.e, x-1, 2,3, ...). Where should the firm locate? (b) How does your answer to all parts under (a) change if the marginal procurement cost were equal to zero?

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

given data is

Total freight cost (TC) = PC + DC = 20 + 9x + (10 - x)3

(a)

(i) x = 10

TC = 20 + (9 x 10) + (10 - 10)3 = 20 + 90 = 110

(ii) x = 5

TC = 20 + (9 x 5) + (10 - 5)3 = 20 + 90 + 125 = 235

(iii) x = 0

TC = 20 + (9 x 0) + (10 - 0)3 = 20 + 0 + 1,000 = 1,020

Since TC is lowest when x = 10, this is the ideal distance of location.

(b)

DC = 20 + (10 - x)3

TC = 20 + 9x + 20 + (10 - x)3 = 40 + 9x + (10 - x)3

(i) x = 10

TC = 40 + (9 x 10) + (10 - 10)3 = 40 + 90 = 40

(ii) x = 5

TC = 40 + (9 x 5) + (10 - 5)3 = 40 + 90 + 125 = 255

(iii) x = 0

TC = 40 + (9 x 0) + (10 - 0)3 = 40 + 0 + 1,000 = 1,040

Since TC is lowest when x = 10, this is the ideal distance of location.

The result is unchanged because the fixed cost incraeses the total cost equally for all 3 options.