Question

Suppose that the manager of a restaurant has two new employees, Rahul and Henriette, and is trying to decide which one to assign to which task. Rahul can chop 20 pounds of vegetables or wash 100 dishes per hour. Henriette can chop 30 pounds of vegetables or wash 120 dishes.
a. Who should be assigned to chop vegetables?
b. Who should be assigned to wash dishes?

Answer 1

Answer:

a. Who should be assigned to chop vegetables?

• Henriette

b. Who should be assigned to wash dishes?

• Rahul

Explanation:

we need to determine the opportunity cost of each employee:

Rahul's opportunity cost of chopping one pound of vegetables = 100 / 20 = washing 5 dishes per hour.

Rahul's opportunity cost of washing 1 dish per hour = 20 / 100 = 0.2 pounds of chopped vegetables.

Henriette's opportunity cost of chopping one pound of vegetables = 120 / 30 = washing 4 dishes per hour.

Henriette's opportunity cost of washing 1 dish per hour = 30 / 120 = 0.25 pounds of chopped vegetables.

Rahul should wash dishes while Henriette should chop vegetables because their opportunity cost of performing these activities is lower.