Question

The demand curve suggests that an auto manufacturer will sell 20,000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class vehicles when they are priced at $50,800, but when the price is reduced to $45,000, that quantity will increase to 27,000 units. What is the resulting elasticity?
a. -4.38
b. 6.73
c. -3.07
d. 1.24

Answer 1

Answer:

c. -3.07

Explanation:

price elasticity of demand = % change in quantity demanded / % change in price

• % change in quantity demanded = (27,000 - 20,000) / 20,000 = 0.35 = 35%
• % change in price = (45,000 - $50,800) / $50,800 = -0.114 = 11.4%

price elasticity of demand = 35% / -11.4% = -3.07 or |3.07| in absolute terms

since the price elasticity is higher than |1|, then it is price elastic, which means that a 1% change in price will change the quantity demand in a higher proportion.