Five consumers have the following marginal utility of apples and pears:

Consumer Marginal Utility of Apples Marginal Utility of Pears

Alex 5 9

Becky 5 10

Clancy 4 8

Eileen 4 10

Hubert 3 4

The price of an apple is $1, and the price of a pear is $2.

Which, if any, of these consumers are optimizing over their choice of fruit?

A) Alex

B) Becky

C) Clancy

D) Eileen

E) Hubert

Becky and Clancy are optimizing over their choice of fruit

Explanation:

In order to find which these consumers are optimizing over their choice of fruit we would have to use the following formula:

Marginal utility of apples/Marginal utility of pears=price of apple/price of pear

For Alex = 5/9>1/2

For Becky = 5/10=1/2

For Clancy = 4/8=1/2

For Eileen = 4/10<1/2

For Hubert=3/4>1/2

Therefore, only Becky and Clancy are optimizing