Problem: Atlantis is a small, isolated island in the South Atlantic. The inhabitants grow potatoes and catch fresh fish. The accompanying table shows the maximum annual output combinations of potatoes and fish that can be produced. Obviously, given their limited resources and available technology, as they use more of their resources for potato production, there are fewer resources available for catching fish.
Maximum annual Quantity of potatoes Quantity of fish
output options (pounds) (pounds)
A 1,000 0
B 800 300
C 600 500
D 400 600
E 200 650
F 0 675
Question 1: What is the opportunity cost of increasing the annual output of potatoes from 600 to 800 pounds?
Question 2: What is the opportunity cost of increasing the annual output of potatoes from 200 to 400 pounds?
Question 3: Can you explain why the answers to parts c and d are not the same? What does this imply about the slope of the production possibility frontier?