Hard logarithmic/implicit differentiation question.

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem related to elasticity of demand for a product, specifically a netbook model from Shark Inc. The problem involves finding the elasticity function E(p) in terms of price p and determining the price that maximizes revenue, with constraints on the price range.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss attempts to derive the elasticity of demand using implicit differentiation and logarithmic properties. There are questions about the correctness of the derived expressions for q' and E(p), with some suggesting alternative approaches to differentiation.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with each other's reasoning, questioning assumptions about the differentiation process, and providing guidance on simplifying expressions. There is recognition of errors in signs and simplifications, leading to further exploration of the problem.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on ensuring that all answers are expressed in terms of p, and participants are navigating through potential errors in their calculations while adhering to the constraints of the problem.

Senjai
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QUESTION HAS BEEN SOLVED ! :) THANKS MARK![/color]

Homework Statement


Shark Inc. has determined that demand for its newest netbook model is given by [PLAIN]https://webwork.elearning.ubc.ca/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/80/fa9842dd3479ee1baaab655e02a1c41.png, where q is the number of netbooks Shark can sell at a price of p dollars per unit. Shark has determined that this model is valid for prices p \geq 100. You may find it useful in this problem to know that elasticity of demand is defined to be [PLAIN]https://webwork.elearning.ubc.ca/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/c9/9d605854cd629ac16035b6765c1d051.png

1) Find E(p), your answer should be in terms of p only.
2) What price will maximize revenue, if the price is less than 100, write NA

2. The attempt at a solution

My answer for #1 (which was wrong) using the formula was:

-[(e^(3*ln(p)-0.002p+7)*(3/p-0.002))]*(\frac{p}{(e^(3*ln(p)-0.002p+7)})

First i solved for q. As all answers must be in terms of p.

Isolating i got:

ln(q) = 3ln(p) - 0.002p +7

q = e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)

Then I differentiated using the chain and logarithm rules

q' = \left(e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)\right) * \left(\frac{3}{p} - 0.002\right)

So when I put these values into: E\left(p\right) = -q' * \frac{p}{q}

I got

E\left(p\right) = -1 * \left[\left(e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)\right) * \left(\frac{3}{p} - 0.002\right)\right] * \frac{p}{e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)}

But this is wrong, why?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Senjai said:

Homework Statement


Shark Inc. has determined that demand for its newest netbook model is given by [PLAIN]https://webwork.elearning.ubc.ca/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/80/fa9842dd3479ee1baaab655e02a1c41.png, where q is the number of netbooks Shark can sell at a price of p dollars per unit. Shark has determined that this model is valid for prices p \geq 100. You may find it useful in this problem to know that elasticity of demand is defined to be [PLAIN]https://webwork.elearning.ubc.ca/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/c9/9d605854cd629ac16035b6765c1d051.png

1) Find E(p), your answer should be in terms of p only.
2) What price will maximize revenue, if the price is less than 100, write NA

2. The attempt at a solution

My answer for #1 (which was wrong) using the formula was:

-[(e^(3*ln(p)-0.002p+7)*(3/p-0.002))]*(\frac{p}{(e^(3*ln(p)-0.002p+7)})

First i solved for q. As all answers must be in terms of p.

Isolating i got:

ln(q) = 3ln(p) - 0.002p +7

q = e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)
This looks fine. You might want to simplify it, though, to e7*p3*e-0.002p.
Senjai said:
Then I differentiated using the chain and logarithm rules
Instead of doing it this way, why don't you differentiate the original equation implicitly. I think that would be simpler. When you're ready to put your answer for E(p), you can replace q using the formula you got above, so that E(p) is written in terms of p alone.
Senjai said:
q' = \left(e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)\right) * \left(\frac{3}{p} - 0.002\right)

So when I put these values into: E\left(p\right) = -q' * \frac{p}{q}

I got

E\left(p\right) = -1 * \left[\left(e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)\right) * \left(\frac{3}{p} - 0.002\right)\right] * \frac{p}{e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)}

But this is wrong, why?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
is q' wrong?

I did it implicitly using the original equation and got the same answer.

Implicit

(ln(q)-3ln(p)-0.002p)' = (7)'

=

\frac{q'}{q} - \frac{3}{p} - 0.002 = 0

And rearranged to get the same answer as my previous q' after subbing in my original q. (multiplying both sides by q.)
 
You have a sign error.
From your last equation in the previous post,
q'/q = 3/p + 0.002 ==> q' = q(3/p + 0.002)
 
According to [PLAIN]https://webwork.elearning.ubc.ca/webwork2_files/tmp/equations/80/fa9842dd3479ee1baaab655e02a1c41.png

Isnt it q'/q = 3/p - 0.002 ??

Thanks for your assistance so far by the way.

Edit: oh from the post I just made, yes i see that, but the answer is still wrong (online submission, unlimited tries) the last post is incorrect, the original post is it's correct form[/color]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I was going by what you had in post #3 which I didn't notice was different from post #1.

What you have in post #2 should be simplified.
E\left(p\right) = -1 * \left[\left(e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)\right) * \left(\frac{3}{p} - 0.002\right)\right] * \frac{p}{e^\left(3ln(p) - 0.002p +7\right)}
Cancel the e3lnp - .002p + 7 factors in the numerator and denominator.
 
My god, that's all I had to do, after that I had the correct answer.

Thank you for your help mark :) Must be tired or something.
 

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