Suppose your marginal utility for meals at the campus cafeteria this week has fallen to zero. Explain what has happened to your total utility curve derived from consuming these meals. Now explain what will happen to total utility if you eat more meals at the cafeteria this week.
When the marginal utility for meals at the campus cafeteria falls to zero, it means that you have reached a point of saturation or satisfaction. In other words, consuming more meals at the cafeteria will no longer bring any additional utility or satisfaction.
As a result, your total utility curve derived from consuming these meals will start to flatten out and eventually plateau. Initially, the curve would have been increasing, indicating that each additional meal added to your total utility. However, as you approach the point of zero marginal utility, the curve will become more horizontal, indicating that each additional meal does not contribute to any increase in total utility.
If you continue to eat more meals at the cafeteria after reaching zero marginal utility, your total utility will not increase. This is because you have already attained the maximum level of satisfaction from these meals. Therefore, consuming additional meals will not contribute to any additional total utility.