Suppose There Are Three Power-Generating Plants, Each of Which Has

question 37

Multiple Choice

Suppose there are three power-generating plants, each of which has access to 5 different production processes. The table below summarizes the cost of each production process and the corresponding number of tons of smoke emitted each. $\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline \text { Process } & \text { A } & \text { B } & \text { C } & \text { D } & \text { E } \\\text { (smoke/day) } & \text { (4 tons/day) } & \text { (3 tons/day) } & \text { (2 tons/day) } & (1 \text { ton/day) } & \text { (0 tons/day) } \\\hline \text { Cost to Firm } X(\$ / \text { day) } & \$ 500 & \$ 514 & \$ 530 & \$ 555 & \$ 585 \\\hline \text { Cost to Firm Y (\$/day) } & \$ 400 & \$ 420 & \$ 445 & \$ 480 & \$ 520 \\\hline \text { Cost to Firm Z(\$/day) } & \$ 300 & \$ 325 & \$ 360 & \$ 400 & \$ 550 \\\hline\end{array}$
The least costly way of lowering smoke emissions from 12 tons to 9 tons per day would be for:

• A)each firm to reduce emissions by 1 ton, emitting 3 tons each.
• B)Firm X to emit 2 tons, Firm Y to emit 3 tons and Firm Z to emit 4 tons.
• C)Firm X to emit 4 tons, Firm Y to emit 3 tons and Firm Z to emit 2 tons.
• D)Firm X to emit 1 ton, Firm Y to emit 4 tons and Firm Z to emit 4 tons.

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Definitions:

Shale Gas

Natural gas trapped within a relatively nonpermeable shale body, extracted by hydraulic fracturing.

Fine-grained

Describing materials or minerals that have small, compact particles or crystals, often used in the context of rocks or sediment.

Low Permeability

Characteristic of materials or rock formations that allow very little fluid to pass through due to small or poorly connected pores.

Salt Dome

A structure formed when buried salt buoyantly flows to the surface in steep, pipelike conduits.