Question

emma is trying to decide whether to buy a new laptop. as a student, she has a budget and wants to make sure this is the right financial decision. which question should she ask herself in determining the opportunity cost of this purchase?

○ what will i have to sacrifice if i buy this laptop?
○ can i use credit to buy this laptop?
○ do i need this laptop for my studies?
○ is there a less costly alternative to buying this laptop?

Explanation:

Opportunity cost is the value of the next - best alternative forgone when a decision is made. To determine the opportunity cost of buying a laptop, Emma needs to know what she has to give up (sacrifice) by making this purchase. The question "Can I use credit to buy this laptop?" is about the payment method, not opportunity cost. "Do I need this laptop for my studies?" is about the necessity of the laptop for studies, not opportunity cost. "Is there a less costly alternative to buying this laptop?" is about finding a cheaper option, not about what is forgone. Only "What will I have to sacrifice if I buy this laptop?" relates to identifying the forgone alternative, which is the essence of opportunity cost.

Answer:

A. What will I have to sacrifice if I buy this laptop?