How does a change in the price of a good affect a consumer's utility maximization behavior, given their preferences for that good and the marginal utility derived from it?

When the price of a good changes, it can affect how much of that good a consumer wants to buy to maximize their satisfaction, or utility. Utility maximization happens when a consumer tries to get the most happiness from their spending based on their preferences and the price of goods. For example, if the price of apples drops, a consumer may buy more apples because they get more satisfaction, or utility, from each apple compared to other goods. This change in behavior happens because the consumer wants to make sure they are getting the best value for their money, balancing the utility they receive from apples with their budget. Therefore, a lower price can lead to increased consumption of that good, while a higher price might make the consumer buy less or choose alternatives.