PROFIT CURVE: A curve that graphically represents the relation between economic profit earned by a firm and the quantity of output sold. This curve is constructed to capture the relation between profit and the level of output, holding other variables, especially those affecting the total revenue and total cost curves, constant. This is one of three methods typically used to determine the profit-maximizing quantity of output produced by a firm. The other two methods are total revenue and total cost and marginal revenue and marginal cost. See also | profit | perfect competition | short-run production | firm | quantity | total revenue | total cost | profit maximization | production | marginal revenue | marginal cost | profit curve, monopolistic competition | profit curve, monopoly |
