In a perfectly competitive market, the relationship between price and marginal cost is similar to which of the following relationships? A: B :: C: ?

In a perfectly competitive market, the price of a good is equal to the marginal cost of producing one more unit of that good. This relationship is similar to the way a student’s grade reflects their understanding of a subject. Just as a student's grade shows how well they grasp the material, the price in a market indicates how much consumers are willing to pay for the last unit produced. For example, if a bakery produces one more loaf of bread at a cost of $2 and sells it for $2, the price equals the marginal cost, showing that the bakery is maximizing its profits. Both scenarios highlight the importance of matching output or performance to demand or value.