The MUx/MUy ratio is 10 and the Px/Py ratio is 8, so the consumer should buy

less X and more Y
more X and less Y
more X and more Y
less X and less Y

The correct answer is A. less X and more Y.

The consumer should buy less X and more Y because the marginal utility of X is less than the marginal utility of Y, and the price of X is greater than the price of Y. This means that the consumer is getting more satisfaction from consuming Y than from consuming X, and that they are paying more for X than they are for Y. By buying less X and more Y, the consumer can increase their satisfaction while also saving money.

Here is a more detailed explanation of each option:

  • Option A: less X and more Y. This is the correct answer because the marginal utility of X is less than the marginal utility of Y, and the price of X is greater than the price of Y. This means that the consumer is getting more satisfaction from consuming Y than from consuming X, and that they are paying more for X than they are for Y. By buying less X and more Y, the consumer can increase their satisfaction while also saving money.
  • Option B: more X and less Y. This is not the correct answer because the marginal utility of X is less than the marginal utility of Y. This means that the consumer is getting more satisfaction from consuming Y than from consuming X. If the consumer buys more X, they will be getting less satisfaction from their consumption.
  • Option C: more X and more Y. This is not the correct answer because the price of X is greater than the price of Y. This means that the consumer is paying more for X than they are for Y. If the consumer buys more X, they will be spending more money than they need to.
  • Option D: less X and less Y. This is not the correct answer because the marginal utility of X is less than the marginal utility of Y. This means that the consumer is getting more satisfaction from consuming Y than from consuming X. If the consumer buys less X, they will be getting less satisfaction from their consumption.