Ryan is deciding between attending Western State University and Eastern State University. He cannot attend both universities simultaneously. Both are fineuniversities, but the reputation of Western is slightly higher, as is the tuition. Let MUE and MUW beRyan's marginal utilities from attending Eastern and Western State Universities respectively and PE and PW be the prices of attending Eastern and Western State Universities. Using the rule of consumeroptimum, Ryan will decide to

attend Eastern State University, if MUE/PE EXCEEDS MUW/PW

attend Eastern State University if MUE/PE is less than MUW/PW

attend Western State University, if PE/MUE< PW/MUW

attend Western State University, since it gives him more utility.