<p>In this graph they use marginal cost to describe a sort of linear approximation of the change in the cost function <span class="math-container">$C(x)$</span> at some point <span class="math-container">$x_0$</span>, that is
<span class="math-container">$$
MC_{x_0}(x) = (x-x_0) \cdot \frac{\partial C(x_0)}{\partial x}.
$$</span>
This is indeed not the usual way the term marginal cost is used.</p>

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2020-02-05T05:18:51.870Z
2020-02-05T05:18:51.870Z
Giskard
<p>I think it's because marginal cost is the area of the triangle under the tangent line, since marginal cost is the derivative of the cost function. But since the cost curve is shown to be convex, the actual cost of increasing production by one unit would have less area. </p>

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2020-02-05T07:07:47.707Z
Derivative is not a triangle area - it’s rise over run (slope) of tangent line in limit as change in x axis goes to 0. The only reason you have triangle there is that it shows what the rise and run is of the tangent line. An area of shapes is given by appropriate integral not derivative
1muflon1
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-05T23:46:15.070Z
Thanks for your insight. I should have been more careful. I guess I just assumed the change in x to be 1 so that I can directly compare the "marginal cost" to the extra cost as it is done in the question.
Moon
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-05T06:16:25.947Z
2020-02-05T06:16:25.947Z
Moon
<p>I have been reading this resource which talks about why derivatives can be used to find the marginal cost. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.dummies.com/education/math/calculus/how-to-determine-marginal-cost-marginal-revenue-and-marginal-profit-in-economics/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.dummies.com/education/math/calculus/how-to-determine-marginal-cost-marginal-revenue-and-marginal-profit-in-economics/</a></p>

<p>I am slightly confused about a statement referring to marginal cost and extra cost. They write "If you look very closely at the right side of the above figure, you can see that the extra cost goes up to the curve, but that the marginal cost goes up a tiny amount more to the tangent line, and thus the marginal cost is a bit more than the extra cost".</p>

<p>Are they stating that the marginal cost is different from the extra cost? Isn't that incorrect as the marginal cost is the extra cost from producing one more unit of a good? Or is marginal cost separate from the extra cost?</p>

<p>is it saying that marginal cost is different from extra cost?</p>

<marginal>
Is marginal cost different from extra cost?
Christopher U
# Is marginal cost different from extra cost?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-02-05)

I have been reading this resource which talks about why derivatives can be used to find the marginal cost.

<https://www.dummies.com/education/math/calculus/how-to-determine-marginal-cost-marginal-revenue-and-marginal-profit-in-economics/>

I am slightly confused about a statement referring to marginal cost and extra cost. They write "If you look very closely at the right side of the above figure, you can see that the extra cost goes up to the curve, but that the marginal cost goes up a tiny amount more to the tangent line, and thus the marginal cost is a bit more than the extra cost".

Are they stating that the marginal cost is different from the extra cost? Isn't that incorrect as the marginal cost is the extra cost from producing one more unit of a good? Or is marginal cost separate from the extra cost?

is it saying that marginal cost is different from extra cost?

**Tags:** marginal


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-02-05. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

In this graph they use marginal cost to describe a sort of linear approximation of the change in the cost function $C(x)$ at some point $x\_0$, that is
$$
MC\_{x\_0}(x) = (x-x\_0) \cdot \frac{\partial C(x\_0)}{\partial x}.
$$
This is indeed not the usual way the term marginal cost is used.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-02-05. Score: -1

I think it's because marginal cost is the area of the triangle under the tangent line, since marginal cost is the derivative of the cost function. But since the cost curve is shown to be convex, the actual cost of increasing production by one unit would have less area.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Derivative is not a triangle area - it’s rise over run (slope) of tangent line in limit as change in x axis goes to 0. The only reason you have triangle there is that it shows what the rise and run is of the tangent line. An area of shapes is given by appropriate integral not derivative  
> **username_2**: Thanks for your insight. I should have been more careful. I guess I just assumed the change in x to be 1 so that I can directly compare the "marginal cost" to the extra cost as it is done in the question.  

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