valid total cost curve

A graphic representation of a total cost curve (with price on one axis and quantity on the other) that incorporates the discounts achieved at various order quantity levels. For example, if a price break is given on a specific inventory item at the 10,000 unit point, this segment of the cost curve would diverge from the projected curve involving a quantity of less than 10,000 units. This approach may give the curve on the graph a "stair step" appearance.