# Relations of M.U. & Price

#### Relationship between Marginal Utility and Price :

Let us discuss the relationship between marginal utility and price in order to understand how the law of diminishing marginal utility forms the basis of law of demand. It is a perfect example of practical application of the law of Diminishing Marginal Utility (DMU).

To understand the relation, it is essential to convert marginal utility in terms of money so that it can be compared with market price.

Let us assume :

One unit of marginal utility =  10.

Market price per unit of x =  50.

 No of units MU/ units of x MU in terms of money(1 unit =  10) Market price/unit of x =  50 Comparison between MU and price 1 10 100 (10 × 10 )  50 100 MU> 50 2 8 80 (8 ×  10 )  50 80 MU> 50 3 7 70 (7 ×  10 )  50 70 MU> 50 4 5 50 (5 ×  10 )  50 50 MU = 50 5 3 30 (3 ×  10 )  50 30 MU< 50 6 1 10 (1 ×  10 )  50 10 MU< 50

Above table explains the relationship between marginal utility (MU) and price.

The table shows that a consumer starts buying units of commodity x for his consumption, one after the other. Marginal utility which is added to his stock goes on diminishing with every further unit consumed. When MU is converted in terms of money, one can easily compare it with market price which is shown in the column 5 of the above table.

For the first three units consumed, it is found that marginal utility in terms of money is greater than the price paid. A rational consumer will willingly buy these units since the benefit derived is more than the price paid. At the 4th unit marginal utility and price become equal. So the consumer can also think of buying the  4th unit. In the case of 5th and 6th units, marginal utility derived is less than the market price paid. A rational consumer will not buy further once the equality between marginal utility and price is established.

From the above table, following inferences can be made with reference to marginal utility and price :

• Units which a consumer willingly buys because MU is greater than price are called “Intra-marginal units” (MUx>Px)
• Unit at which   MU   becomes   equal with market price is “marginal unit”. (MUx=Px) = Consumer’s equilibrium

Units which a rational consumer is not willing to buy and consume where he has to pay more than the MU are called “Extra- marginal units.” (MUx<Px).

Thus, a rational consumer attains equilibrium where MUx=Px. This relationship between marginal utility and price paved way for law of demand.