Class 11 Micro Economics Notes · CBSE

Revenue Curves under Perfect Competition

Revenue Curves under Perfect Competition — understanding AR-MR and TR behaviour when the firm is a price-taker. CBSE Class 11 Microeconomics notes with schedules and curve diagrams.

Last updated: 12 Sep 2026

Notes

When Price Remains Constant — The Price-Taker

When Price remains Constant (Perfect Competition)
In this situation, a firm has to accept the same price as determined by the industry. Any quantity of a commodity can be sold at that particular price.
No firm can influence the market price. Revenue from every additional unit (MR) equals AR.

AR and MR Curves Coincide

When a firm can sell more output at the same price, AR = MR at all levels of output.
05101520AR and MR (in ₹)0123456Units Sold
Price = AR = MR
Units soldPrice / AR (₹)TR (₹)MR (₹)
1555
25105
35155
45205
55255
Both AR and MR curves coincide as a horizontal straight line parallel to the X-axis. The demand curve is perfectly elastic.

TR Curve — a Straight Line from the Origin

Since MR remains constant, TR increases at a constant rate — a positively sloped straight line starting from the origin.

051015202530TR (in ₹)0123456Units Sold
MR = AR = 5
TR
Units soldPrice / AR (₹)TR (₹)MR (₹)
1555
25105
35155
45205
55255

TR = Area under the Price Line

When price is constant, Price = AR = MR. So TR = ΣMR = area under the price line = OP × OQ.

PQUnits SoldPrice (in ₹)

Live TR Readout

TR = OP × OQ = 5 × 3

15

Area = TR = ΣMR

012345

Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

  • Under perfect competition, AR = MR = Price at all levels — both curves coincide as a horizontal line.
  • The demand curve (AR curve) is perfectly elastic.
  • TR increases at a constant rate — a straight line from the origin.
  • TR = ΣMR = area under the price line = OP × OQ.
  • The firm is a price-taker.