<p>From my experience, the results are not always the same. 
For instance, we have VC = 3Q + Q2, so that the marginal cost is MC = 3 + 2Q and average variable cost is AVC = 3 + Q. Both MC and AVC are linear curves emanating from 0.</p>

<p>When price is 9, Q is 3 (because P = MC), and: </p>

<p>1) the first calculation will give us producer surplus PS = Q (P-AVC) = 3.(9 - 6) = 9</p>

<p>2) but the second calculation will give us: PS = P.Q - (1/2.MC.Q) = 9.3 - (1/2.9.3) = 13.5</p>

<p>CMIIW.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-07T18:58:36.740Z
"*Both MC and AVC are linear curves emanating from 0.*" This is not true, from your formula $MC$ clearly starts at the height 3. This is relevant because "1/2.MC.Q" calculates the area of a triangle with height $MC$ and base $Q$, but in your example the area under the $MC$ is not a triangle, as it does not start from 0.
Giskard
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-07T22:57:00.330Z
The second method would give $\frac12(9-3)3=9$, same as first.
Herr K.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-09T07:27:03.637Z
Ups, my bad. Sorry. Both of you are right. Thanks for the correction.
Eltea Trialdi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-07T06:29:06.080Z
2020-03-07T06:29:06.080Z
Eltea Trialdi
<p>Ask your teacher what he meant, because there is either a misunderstanding or he is mistaken. </p>

<p>Producer's surplus will come down to <span class="math-container">$y \cdot p - VC(y)$</span>.</p>

<p>In the first graph, by definition of <span class="math-container">$AVC$</span> we have
<span class="math-container">$$
y \cdot (p - AVC(y)) = y \cdot p - VC(y).
$$</span>
In the second graph, using <span class="math-container">$\int MC = VC$</span> and <span class="math-container">$VC(0) = 0$</span>, we have
<span class="math-container">$$
\int_0^y p - MC(x) \text{d} x =
\left[x \cdot p - VC(x)\right]_0^y = y \cdot p - VC(y).
$$</span>
The area in the third graph is 
<span class="math-container">$$
\begin{align*}
\int_0^z p - AVC(z) \text{d} x + 
\int_z^y p - MC(x) \text{d} x.
\end{align*}
$$</span>
Let us calculate it by parts:
<span class="math-container">$$
\begin{align*}
\int_0^z p - AVC(z) \text{d} x &amp; = z \cdot p - z \cdot AVC(z) = z \cdot p -  VC(z) \\
 \\
\int_z^y p - MC(x) \text{d} x &amp; = (y - z) \cdot p - VC(y) + VC(z). 
\end{align*}
$$</span>
Summing up the two, we get <span class="math-container">$y \cdot p - VC(y)$</span>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-11T16:01:24.533Z
2018-12-11T18:16:38.970Z
2018-12-11T18:16:38.970Z
Giskard
<p>In the Firm supply chapter of the microeconomics Varian's book, they show "three equivalent ways to measure producer’s surplus" using marginal cost, average cost and the average variable cost curves.</p>

<p>But my teacher says, "those three ways give different results. You have to keep the same method during a given analysis".</p>

<p>So are they or not giving the same result?</p>

<p>Intuitively I think they do give the same result and do not understand why my teacher says they do not.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/GYtge.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/GYtge.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-11T16:08:56.973Z
If someone want to add a mathematical demonstration, that would be a great addition. I did it on my side, but it's very messy.
gagarine
<microeconomics><firm>
Do the three ways of measuring producer’s surplus give the same result?
gagarine
# Do the three ways of measuring producer’s surplus give the same result?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-11)

In the Firm supply chapter of the microeconomics Varian's book, they show "three equivalent ways to measure producer’s surplus" using marginal cost, average cost and the average variable cost curves.

But my teacher says, "those three ways give different results. You have to keep the same method during a given analysis".

So are they or not giving the same result?

Intuitively I think they do give the same result and do not understand why my teacher says they do not.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/GYtge.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/GYtge.png)

**Tags:** microeconomics, firm

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: If someone want to add a mathematical demonstration, that would be a great addition. I did it on my side, but it's very messy.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-12-11. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Ask your teacher what he meant, because there is either a misunderstanding or he is mistaken.

Producer's surplus will come down to $y \cdot p - VC(y)$.

In the first graph, by definition of $AVC$ we have
$$
y \cdot (p - AVC(y)) = y \cdot p - VC(y).
$$
In the second graph, using $\int MC = VC$ and $VC(0) = 0$, we have
$$
\int\_0^y p - MC(x) \text{d} x =
\left[x \cdot p - VC(x)\right]\_0^y = y \cdot p - VC(y).
$$
The area in the third graph is
$$
\begin{align\*}
\int\_0^z p - AVC(z) \text{d} x +
\int\_z^y p - MC(x) \text{d} x.
\end{align\*}
$$
Let us calculate it by parts:
$$
\begin{align\*}
\int\_0^z p - AVC(z) \text{d} x & = z \cdot p - z \cdot AVC(z) = z \cdot p - VC(z) \\
\\
\int\_z^y p - MC(x) \text{d} x & = (y - z) \cdot p - VC(y) + VC(z).
\end{align\*}
$$
Summing up the two, we get $y \cdot p - VC(y)$.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2020-03-07. Score: 0

From my experience, the results are not always the same.
For instance, we have VC = 3Q + Q2, so that the marginal cost is MC = 3 + 2Q and average variable cost is AVC = 3 + Q. Both MC and AVC are linear curves emanating from 0.

When price is 9, Q is 3 (because P = MC), and:

1) the first calculation will give us producer surplus PS = Q (P-AVC) = 3.(9 - 6) = 9

2) but the second calculation will give us: PS = P.Q - (1/2.MC.Q) = 9.3 - (1/2.9.3) = 13.5

CMIIW.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: "*Both MC and AVC are linear curves emanating from 0.*" This is not true, from your formula $MC$ clearly starts at the height 3. This is relevant because "1/2.MC.Q" calculates the area of a triangle with height $MC$ and base $Q$, but in your example the area under the $MC$ is not a triangle, as it does not start from 0.  
> **username_3**: The second method would give $\frac12(9-3)3=9$, same as first.  
> **username_1**: Ups, my bad. Sorry. Both of you are right. Thanks for the correction.  

---

