Should a Heart Surgeon Do Her Own Plumbing?

A heart surgeon is skillful at unplugging arteries and rerouting the flow of blood, and these skills also make her a very skillful plumber. She can clear a clogged drain in six minutes, about 10 times faster than the most skillful plumber in town. (Related to Application 3 on page 38 .)

a. Should the surgeon clear her own clogged drains?

Explain.

b. Suppose the surgeon earns $20 per minute in heart surgery, and the best plumber in town charges $50 per hour. How much does the surgeon gain by hiring the plumber to clear a clogged drain?