A simple technique for teaching the Cournot model to first year students is presented. The approach involves convincing the students that out of all rectangles with a common circumference, the square has the greatest area. No use is made of derivatives. The same approach can be used to...

The author presents a simple technique for teaching the Cournot model to first-year students. The approach involves demonstrating to the students that out of all rectangles with a common perimeter, the square has the greatest area. No use is made of derivatives. The same approach can be used to...