Marginal Utility refers to the additional satisfaction or benefit derived from consuming one more unit of a good or service. It is the change in Total Utility as a result of consuming an additional unit. Marginal Utility typically decreases as more units of a good are consumed, which is known as the law of diminishing marginal utility. This means that as a person consumes more of a good, the added satisfaction from each additional unit tends to diminish.
Marginal Utility becomes zero when Total Utility reaches its maximum point, meaning that any additional consumption does not increase overall satisfaction or benefit. At this stage, Total Utility becomes constant, and further consumption of the good no longer adds value.
The Indifference Curve represents different combinations of two goods that provide the consumer with the same level of satisfaction or Total Utility. These curves typically slope downward, reflecting the trade-off between the two goods. As a consumer gives up some quantity of one good, they must receive more of the other good to maintain the same level of satisfaction. The downward slope of the curve demonstrates the substitution effect, where consumers substitute one good for another while keeping their utility constant.