The Law of Variable Proportions assumes that:

Appeared in: DSSSB 14 August 2024

Explanation

The Law of Variable Proportions is a short-run economic principle.
The 'short run' is defined as a period where at least one factor of production is fixed (e.g., capital, land) while others are variable (e.g., labor).
The law examines how output changes when more units of a variable input are combined with fixed inputs.
Therefore, the core assumption is that some inputs are fixed while others are variable, which is characteristic of the short run.

Option A: This statement describes the long run, not the short run. The Law of Variable Proportions specifically applies to the short run.
Option B: This contradicts the definition of the short run. The short run is characterized by having at least one fixed input.
Option C: This statement is incorrect. The long run is the period in which a firm can vary all its inputs. No inputs are fixed in the long run.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Assumptions of the Law of Variable Proportions as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While not a direct clinical concept, this economic principle is highly relevant to healthcare management and administration, a field many senior nurses enter.
A hospital manager must decide how many nurses (variable input) to schedule per shift for a unit with a fixed number of beds and equipment (fixed inputs). This law helps predict how adding more nurses will affect patient care output and efficiency.
Understanding this concept helps in optimizing resource allocation to avoid both understaffing (poor outcomes) and overstaffing (diminishing returns and increased costs).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Law of Variable Proportions'.
Recall the definition of this law. It is a short-run concept that explains how output is affected by changing one variable input while keeping other inputs fixed.
Analyze the definitions of 'short run' (at least one input is fixed) and 'long run' (all inputs are variable).
Evaluate each option against these definitions. Option D directly matches the definition of the short run, which is the context for the Law of Variable Proportions.
Eliminate the other options by identifying why they are incorrect. Option A refers to the long run, while options B and C misrepresent the definitions of short run and long run, respectively.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full DSSSB 14 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.