Law of Variable Proportions:

The law of variable proportions is a fundamental principle of economics that explains the relationship between the amount of inputs used in production and the resulting output. It states that as one input is increased while all others are held constant, the output will increase, but only up to a certain point. At this point, the law of diminishing returns takes effect, and the output will begin to increase at a decreasing rate.

First Stage of Law of Variable Proportions:

The first stage of the law of variable proportions is characterized by an increase in total product as more units of the variable input are employed while the fixed inputs are held constant. This stage is also known as the stage of increasing returns or the stage of expansion.

Total Product:

Total product refers to the total output produced by a firm using a given combination of inputs. It is the sum of all the units of output produced by the firm.

Total Product and Increasing Rate:

In the first stage of the law of variable proportions, the total product increases at an increasing rate. This means that as the firm adds more units of the variable input, the total output increases at an accelerating rate. This is because the additional units of the variable input are being used more efficiently, and the firm is able to take advantage of economies of scale.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the total product increases at an increasing rate in the first stage of the law of variable proportions. This is due to the efficient use of the additional units of the variable input, resulting in economies of scale. However, as more and more units of the variable input are added, the law of diminishing returns takes effect, and the total product begins to increase at a decreasing rate.