Deck 5: Elasticity of Demand and Supply

Question 1

Both the income elasticity of demand and the cross-price elasticity of demand coefficients can take on negative, zero, or positive values.​

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The greater the availability of close substitutes for a product, the greater the price elasticity of demand for that product.​

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Total revenue is maximized where demand is inelastic.​

Answer 3

False

Question 4

If demand is elastic, a decrease in price leads to a decrease in total revenue.​

Question 5

Total revenue is the same for every price-quantity combination along a unit-elastic demand curve.​

Question 6

Necessities and luxuries are both types of normal goods.​

Question 7

Any supply curve that is a straight line passing through the graph's origin is unit elastic.​

Question 8

As consumers have a longer time period to respond, the demand for a product typically becomes more inelastic.​

Question 9

If demand is inelastic, the percentage change in price is greater than the resulting percentage change in quantity demanded.​

Question 10

If the demand curve shifts, but the supply curve does not, and the price remains the same, supply must be perfectly inelastic.​

Question 11

Price elasticity is 1 at the midpoint of a linear downward-sloping demand curve.​

Question 12

As price decreases along a linear demand curve, the price elasticity of demand decreases.​

Question 13

If income rises and the demand for a product remains unchanged, the income elasticity of demand for that product is unit elastic.​

Question 14

When the cross-price elasticity of demand between two products is positive, the two goods are said to be substitutes.​

Question 15

A normal good is defined as a product for which quantity demanded increases as price decreases.​

Question 16

Elasticity rises as price falls along a linear downward-sloping demand curve.​

Question 17

The availability of substitutes makes the demand for a good less elastic.​

Question 18

The demand for firewood is likely to be more elastic in the summer than in the winter.​

Question 19

The larger the proportion of a consumer's budget that is spent on a product, the more the consumer will demand a substitute.​

Question 20

The ability of increasing quantity supplied in response to a higher price is identical across industries.​

Question 21

Which of the following is assumed to be constant while calculating the price elasticity of demand?​

A)The price of the product itself
B)The quantity demanded of the product
C)Total revenue received from the sale of the product
D)The price of all other products
E)The cost of production

Question 22

If the price of Pepsi-Cola increases from 40 cents to 50 cents per can and the quantity demanded decreases from 100 cans to 50 cans, then the value of the price elasticity of demand for Pepsi-Cola is:​

A)−0.5.
B)−0.25.
C)−1.
D) −3.
E) −2.

Question 23

Cross-price elasticity measures the responsiveness of the price of good A to a change in the price of good B.​

Question 24

If the price elasticity of demand is −0.5, then a:​

A)1 percent decrease in quantity demanded leads to a 0.5 percent decrease in price.
B)1 percent decrease in price leads to a 0.5 percent increase in quantity demanded.
C)50 percent decrease in price leads to a 1 percent increase in quantity demanded.
D)50 percent decrease in price leads to a 100 percent increase in quantity demanded.
E)50 percent decrease in quantity demanded leads to a 1 percent decrease in price.

Question 25

Unit-elastic demand occurs when:​

A)a one-unit increase in price leads to a one-unit decrease in quantity demanded.
B)a 1 percent increase in price leads to a one-unit decrease in quantity demanded.
C)the price elasticity of demand is positive.
D)the price elasticity of demand is exactly zero.
E)the price elasticity of demand is exactly 1.

Question 26

Table 5.2 shows the change in the quantity demanded for Good A and Good B as a result of the change in their price. Use the information in the table below to calculate the price elasticity of demand for Good A.​ Table 5.2
​
​
Quantity
Price
Good A
​
100
$10
120
​
$ 9
Good B
200
$20
140
$35

A)−5/2
B)−11/3
C)−3/10
D)−10/3
E)−19/11

Question 27

Another word for elasticity is _____.​

A)responsiveness
B)happiness
C)bonus
D)profit
E)surplus

Question 28

Demand is inelastic if:​

A)the percentage change in price is greater than the percentage change in quantity demanded.
B)the percentage change in price is less than the percentage change in quantity demanded.
C)the percentage change in price is equal to the percentage change in quantity demanded.
D)the value of price elasticity is equal to −1.
E)the value of price elasticity is less than −1.

Question 29

If an increase in the price of a product from $1 to $2 per unit leads to a decrease in the quantity demanded from 100 to 80 units, then the value of the price elasticity of demand is:​

A)−1/3
B)−2 1/3
C)−1/4
D)−3
E)−2/3

Question 30

Table 5.3 shows the quantity supplied and the quantity demanded for restaurant meals at different prices. Use the information in the table below to calculate the value of the price elasticity of demand for restaurant meals.​ Table 5.3
​

A)−1/2
B)−5/3
C)−3/5
D)−3/7
E)−7/3

Question 31

The price elasticity of demand is useful because it measures the responsiveness of _____ to changes in _____.​

A)taxpayers; demand
B)producers; supply
C)consumers; price
D)consumers; demand
E)producers; income

Question 32

The price elasticity of demand is typically negative because:​

A)as price decreases, quantity demanded decreases.
B)as price decreases, quantity demanded increases.
C)as price decreases, demand decreases.
D)as price decreases, demand increases.
E)consumers rarely respond to a change in price.

Question 33

Demand is inelastic only if the price elasticity of demand has an absolute value:​

A)of 1.
B)greater than 1.
C)greater than 0 but less than 1.
D)greater than 0.
E)greater than 5.

Question 34

Elasticity measures:​

A)whether a price increase causes quantity demanded to increase or decrease.
B)the strength of an economy's tendency to recover from recession.
C)the responsiveness of decision makers to changes in price, income, or other variables.
D)the profitability of investment in an industry.
E)the long-run price trends in an economy.

Question 35

Demand is unit elastic whenever​

A)price elasticity has an absolute value of 1.
B)price elasticity has an absolute value greater than 1.
C)price elasticity has an absolute value less than 1.
D)price elasticity is negative.
E)consumers do not respond to a change in price.

Question 36

The price elasticity of demand is defined as:​

A)the percentage change in price divided by the percentage change in quantity demanded.
B)the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price.
C)the change in quantity demanded divided by the change in price.
D)the change in price divided by the change in quantity demanded.
E)the quantity demanded divided by the price.

Question 37

The price elasticity of demand is calculated as:​

A)the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price.
B)the percentage change in price divided by the percentage change in quantity demanded.
C)the absolute change in quantity demanded divided by the absolute change in price.
D)the absolute change in price divided by the absolute change in quantity demanded.
E)price multiplied by quantity demanded at that price.

Question 38

Table 5.1 shows the change in the quantity demanded for a product as a result of a change in the price of the product. Use the information in the table below to calculate the value of the price elasticity of demand.​ Table 5.1
​
​
Quantity
Price
Old
20
$40
New
10
$60
​

A)−2/3
B)−1/3
C)−3/5
D) −5/3
E)0

Question 39

Substitutes are pairs of goods that have a positive cross-price elasticity of demand.​

Question 40

Table 5.2 shows the change in the quantity demanded for Good A and Good B as a result of the change in their price. Use the information in the table below to calculate the value of the price elasticity of demand for Good B.​ Table 5.2
​
​
Quantity
Price
Good A
​
100
$10
120
​
$ 9
Good B
200
$20
140
$35

A)−2/3
B)−1/6
C)−1/2
D)−11/17
E)−17/11

Question 41

If a 5 percent increase in price leads to an 8 percent decrease in quantity demanded, demand is:​

A)perfectly elastic.
B)elastic.
C)unit elastic.
D)inelastic.
E)perfectly inelastic.

Question 42

Suppose consumers spent $42 million on Christmas trees last year, when the average tree cost was $30. This year they spend $42 million, when the average tree costs $25. Assume that everything else remains constant. This data suggests that:​

A)consumers bought the same number of Christmas trees this year as last year.
B)the price of the Christmas trees stayed the same.
C)total revenue to tree producers rose this year.
D)the demand for trees is unit elastic.
E)the demand for trees is inelastic.

Question 43

A government-imposed price floor above the market price of milk would increase consumers' expenditures on milk only if _____.​

A)demand is elastic
B)supply is inelastic
C)demand falls
D)demand is inelastic
E)supply is unit elastic

Question 44

Which of the following determines a firm's revenue when it changes the price of its product?​

A)The firm's cost function
B)The elasticity of the firm's total product curve
C)The plant size used by the firm in the long run
D)The price elasticity of demand for the firm's product
E)The price elasticity of supply

Question 45

If demand is price elastic, total revenue is:​

A)directly related to quantity demanded.
B)inversely related to quantity demanded.
C)directly related to price.
D)directly related to price and inversely related to quantity demanded.
E)not related to either price or to quantity demanded.

Question 46

When agricultural production increases, the total amount paid for agricultural products tends to:​

A)increase because demand is perfectly elastic.
B)decrease because demand is price elastic.
C)increase because demand is price inelastic.
D)decrease because demand is price inelastic.
E)remain constant because demand is price inelastic.

Question 47

A university administration's decision to raise tuition in order to increase revenue will be successful if:​

A)the demand curve slopes downward.
B)demand is elastic.
C)demand is inelastic.
D)supply is elastic.
E)supply is inelastic.

Question 48

The demand for a good is elastic if:​

A)an increase in price leads to a decrease in total revenue.
B)an increase in price leads to an increase in total revenue.
C)an increase in price causes no change in total revenue.
D)a decrease in price causes no changes in total revenue.
E)a decrease in price leads to a decrease in total revenue.

Question 49

If an increase in the price of a product from $100 to $200 per unit leads to a decrease in the quantity demanded from 10 to 8 units, then demand is:​

A)elastic.
B)inelastic.
C)unit elastic.
D)zero.
E)perfectly elastic.

Question 50

The price elasticity of demand for milk when quantity is measured in gallons will be _____ the price elasticity when quantity is measured in quarts.​

A)the same as
B)four times
C)one-fourth of
D)two times
E)less than

Question 51

The price elasticity of demand helps determine the effect of price changes on a firm's:​

A)property tax.
B)profit.
C)total output.
D)revenue.
E)total cost.

Question 52

Elasticity is always _____.​

A)measured in dollars
B)measured in utils
C)measured in units of quantity
D)measured in pounds
E)independent of the units of measurement for price and quantity

Question 53

Table 5.4 shows the price and quantity combinations for a product. The demand for the good is _____, and an increase in the price of the product from $40 to $60 per unit will _____ total revenue.​ Table 5.4
​

A)unit elastic; increase​
B)elastic; decrease
C)unit elastic; not change
D)inelastic; increase
E)elastic; decrease

Question 54

If an increase in the price of a product from $1 to $2 per unit leads to a decrease in the quantity demanded from 100 to 80 units, then the demand is:​

A)elastic.
B)inelastic.
C)unit elastic.
D)perfectly elastic.
E)perfectly inelastic.

Question 55

If the price of Pepsi-Cola increases from 50 cents to 60 cents per can and the quantity demanded decreases from 100 cans to 50 cans, then the demand for Pepsi-Cola is:​

A)unit elastic.
B)perfectly elastic.
C)perfectly inelastic.
D)elastic.
E)inelastic.

Question 56

Wheat farmers in Kansas would benefit from a devastating crop failure in North Dakota (another major wheat-producing state) if the U.S. demand for wheat is:​

A)inelastic.
B)elastic.
C)unit elastic.
D)downward sloping.
E)perfectly elastic.

Question 57

If demand is unit elastic, a price reduction will:​

A)increase revenues.
B)reduce revenues.
C)reduce total cost.
D)have no effect on revenues.
E)increase profits.

Question 58

If a price reduction leads to an increase in total revenue, demand is:​

A)perfectly inelastic.
B)inelastic.
C)unit elastic.
D)elastic.
E)perfectly elastic.

Question 59

If a firm raises the price of its product, its total revenue will:​

A)always increase.
B)increase only if demand is price inelastic.
C)increase only if demand is price elastic.
D)remain constant regardless of the price elasticity of demand.
E)never increase.

Question 60

If city officials expect that an increase in bus fares will raise mass transit revenues, they must think that the demand for bus travel is _____.​

A)elastic
B)unit elastic
C)inelastic
D)upward-sloping
E)perfectly elastic

Question 61

One group of people uses New York City subways only during rush hour to travel to and from work. Another group uses them only in midday for leisure activity. If New York City wants to increase transit fares with the smallest possible reduction in revenue, for which group should it increase the fare?​

A)The rush-hour group because its demand for subway service is more elastic than that of the midday group.
B)The rush-hour group because its demand for subway service is less elastic than that of the midday group.
C)The midday group because its demand for subway service is more elastic than that of the rush-hour group.
D)The midday group because its demand for subway service is less elastic than that of the rush-hour group.
E)It doesn't matter because both groups have the same elasticity of demand.

Question 62

Figure 5.4 shows a downward-sloping linear demand curve. Which of the following is true between points g and h in the figure below?​ ​
Figure 5.4

A)Total revenue remains constant at $180
B)Total revenue falls by $12.
C)Total revenue falls by $60.
D)Total revenue falls by $180.
E)Total revenue increases by $300.

Question 63

Figure 5.3 shows a linear demand curve. As you move from point A to point B along the demand curve, total revenue _____ and the demand is _____.​ ​
Figure 5.3
​

A)stays the same; unitary
B)decreases; inelastic
C)increases; elastic
D)increases; elastic
E)increases, inelastic

Question 64

Figure 5.5 shows the total revenue curve for a firm. Which of the following statements is true in the range of the total revenue curve labeled A?​ ​
Figure 5.5

A)Demand is elastic.
B)Demand is inelastic.
C)Demand is unit elastic.
D)Demand is perfectly inelastic.
E)Demand is perfectly elastic.

Question 65

Figure 5.1 shows the demand curve for a firm. In the figure below, the total revenue at point a is _____.​ Figure 5.1
​

A)$4
B)$5
C)$10
D)$50
E)$100

Question 66

Suppose the price elasticity of demand for your economics textbook is −1. If the publisher raises the price by 5 percent:​

A)revenues will rise by 5 percent.
B)quantity demanded will rise by 5 percent.
C)total revenue will not change.
D)revenues will fall.
E)revenues will fall by 5 percent.

Question 67

The total revenue curve that corresponds to a downward-sloping linear demand curve:​

A)slopes downward.
B)slopes upward.
C)is a horizontal line.
D)first rises, then falls.
E)first falls, then rises.

Question 68

Along a linear demand curve, as the price increases from zero:​

A)demand decreases.
B)demand increases.
C)quantity demanded increases.
D)total revenue first increases but eventually decreases.
E)total revenue first decreases but eventually increases.

Question 69

Figure 5.5 shows the total revenue curve for a firm. Which of the following statements is true in the range of the total revenue curve labeled B?​ ​
Figure 5.5.
​

A)Demand is elastic.
B)Demand is inelastic.
C)Demand is unit elastic.
D)Demand is perfectly inelastic.
E)Demand is perfectly elastic.

Question 70

Figure 5.2 shows a demand curve. D, the demand curve in the figure below is an example of a(n):​ ​
Figure 5.2.

A)upward-sloping demand curve.
B)linear demand curve.
C)perfectly elastic demand curve.
D)unit-elastic demand curve.
E)perfectly inelastic demand curve.

Question 71

Identify a statement that is true about a linear demand curve.​

A)Along a linear demand curve, both the slope and price elasticity are constant.
B)Along a linear demand curve, the price elasticity is constant, but the slope varies.
C)Along a linear demand curve, total revenues are constant.
D)Along a linear demand curve, the slope is constant, but the price elasticity varies.
E) Along a linear demand curve, total revenues are negative.

Question 72

Figure 5.4 shows a downward-sloping linear demand curve. Between points b and c in the figure below, price decreases by $1, quantity demanded increases by 10, _____.​ ​
Figure 5.4

A)total revenue decreases by $1, and demand is elastic
B)total revenue decreases by $1, and demand is inelastic
C)total revenue increases by $40, and demand is elastic
D)total revenue increases by $40, and demand is inelastic
E)and total revenue increases by $80

Question 73

The total revenue from selling trucks is equal to:​

A)the price of a truck times the quantity sold.
B)the change in quantity sold divided by the change in price.
C)average cost times the quantity produced.
D)the price of a truck times the quantity produced.
E)the price of a truck times the price elasticity of demand.

Question 74

Which of the following statements is not true?​

A)A perfectly elastic demand curve is a constant-elasticity demand curve.
B)A linear demand curve with a slope of −4 is a constant-elasticity demand curve.
C)A perfectly inelastic demand curve is a constant-elasticity demand curve.
D)Total revenue increases along a unit-elastic demand curve.
E)The elasticity value for a perfectly elastic demand curve is zero.

Question 75

Figure 5.3 shows a linear demand curve. Between points A and B, the demand is:​ ​
Figure 5.3
​

A)unitary.
B)elastic.
C)inelastic.
D)perfectly elastic.
E)perfectly inelastic.

Question 76

Figure 5.3 shows a linear demand curve. As you move from point B to point C along the demand curve, total revenue _____ and the demand is _____.​ ​
Figure 5.3
​

A)stays the same; unitary
B)decreases; inelastic
C)increases; elastic
D)decreases; elastic
E)increases, inelastic

Question 77

Figure 5.5 shows the total revenue curve for a firm. Which of the following statements is true at a quantity of 10?​ ​
Figure 5.5
​

A)Demand is elastic.
B)Demand is inelastic.
C)Demand is unit elastic.
D)Demand is perfectly inelastic.
E)Demand is perfectly elastic.

Question 78

Which of the following describes a situation in which demand must be inelastic?​

A)Total revenue decreases by 10 percent when the price of spats rises by 10 percent.
B)Total revenue decreases by less than 10 percent when the price of spats rises by 10 percent.
C)Total revenue increases by more than 10 percent when the price of spats rises by 10 percent.
D)Total revenue decreases by $10 when the price of spats rises by $10.
E)Total revenue decreases by more than $10 when the price of spats rises by $10.

Question 79

Figure 5.3 shows a linear demand curve. Between points B and C, the demand is:​ ​
Figure 5.3
​

A)unitary.
B)elastic.
C)inelastic.
D)perfectly elastic.
E)perfectly inelastic.

Question 80

Figure 5.3 shows a linear demand curve. Between points C and D, the demand is:​ ​
Figure 5.3

A)unitary.
B)elastic.
C)inelastic.
D)perfectly elastic.
E)perfectly inelastic.