📚 Learning Guide
Calculating Opportunity Costs
hard

When making a decision between two investment options, how does one calculate the opportunity cost, and why is it vital in cost-benefit analysis?

Master this concept with our detailed explanation and step-by-step learning approach

Learning Path
Learning Path

Question & Answer
1
Understand Question
2
Review Options
3
Learn Explanation
4
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Choose the Best Answer

A

By subtracting the cost of the chosen option from the cost of the forgone option

B

By identifying the potential returns of both options and considering the higher return as the opportunity cost

C

By estimating the total costs of both options without regard to their potential returns

D

By averaging the costs of both options to determine which decision is more financially sound

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

To calculate opportunity cost, you first need to identify the two investment options you are considering. Opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative that you give up when you choose one option over the other. For example, if you have $1,000 to invest in either stocks or bonds, and stocks are expected to earn 10% while bonds are expected to earn 5%, the opportunity cost of choosing bonds is the extra 5% you could have earned by choosing stocks instead. Understanding opportunity cost is vital in cost-benefit analysis because it helps you see what you are sacrificing when making a decision, allowing you to make more informed choices. By considering opportunity costs, you can better evaluate which investment will give you the greatest benefit in the long run.

Detailed Explanation

To find the opportunity cost, you look at what you give up. Other options are incorrect because This answer suggests you only look at costs, not returns; This option ignores potential returns and focuses only on costs.

Key Concepts

opportunity cost
decision-making
cost-benefit analysis
Topic

Calculating Opportunity Costs

Difficulty

hard level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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