Understanding the Law of Demand

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 56 views

Introduction

In the world of economics and business, understanding the relationship between price and demand is crucial for making informed decisions. Pattie's Produce, a fictional fruit stand, charges $2.29 for a package of strawberries. On average, they sell 95 packages. However, if the cost of a package of strawberries increases, how will it affect the number of packages sold? In this article, we will explore the relationship between price and demand, using the example of Pattie's Produce.

The Problem

Pattie's Produce charges $2.29 for a package of strawberries. On average, they sell 95 packages. For each 20-cent increase in the cost of a package of strawberries, 9 fewer packages will be sold. We need to find the correct answer to this problem.

Step 1: Understand the Given Information

The initial price of a package of strawberries is $2.29.
The initial number of packages sold is 95.
For each 20-cent increase in the cost of a package of strawberries, 9 fewer packages will be sold.

Step 2: Determine the Relationship Between Price and Demand

The problem states that for each 20-cent increase in the cost of a package of strawberries, 9 fewer packages will be sold. This means that there is a negative relationship between price and demand. As the price increases, the demand decreases.

Step 3: Calculate the Number of Packages Sold for Each Price Increase

Let's calculate the number of packages sold for each price increase.

Price Increase	Number of Packages Sold
$0.00	95
$0.20	86
$0.40	77
$0.60	68
$0.80	59
$1.00	50
$1.20	41
$1.40	32
$1.60	23
$1.80	14
$2.00	5

Step 4: Analyze the Results

From the table above, we can see that as the price increases, the number of packages sold decreases. This is consistent with the negative relationship between price and demand.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the correct answer to the problem is that for each 20-cent increase in the cost of a package of strawberries, 9 fewer packages will be sold. This is a classic example of the law of demand, which states that as the price of a good increases, the quantity demanded decreases.

Understanding the Law of Demand

The law of demand is a fundamental concept in economics that describes the relationship between price and demand. It states that as the price of a good increases, the quantity demanded decreases, and vice versa. This is because higher prices make the good less attractive to consumers, leading to a decrease in demand.

Real-World Applications

The law of demand has many real-world applications. For example, if a company increases the price of its product, it may lead to a decrease in sales. On the other hand, if a company decreases the price of its product, it may lead to an increase in sales.

Case Study: Pattie's Produce

Let's go back to Pattie's Produce. If they increase the price of a package of strawberries by 20 cents, they can expect to sell 9 fewer packages. This is a classic example of the law of demand in action.

Conclusion

Final Thoughts

The law of demand is a fundamental concept in economics that describes the relationship between price and demand. It has many real-world applications, and understanding it is crucial for making informed decisions in business and economics.

References

Mankiw, G. (2017). Principles of Economics. Cengage Learning.
Krugman, P. R., & Wells, R. (2018). Economics. Worth Publishers.
Samuelson, P. A., & Nordhaus, W. D. (2010). Economics. McGraw-Hill Education.

Glossary

Law of Demand: The law of demand states that as the price of a good increases, the quantity demanded decreases, and vice versa.
Price: The amount of money that a consumer pays for a good or service.
Demand: The quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at a given price.
Supply: The quantity of a good or service that producers are willing and able to sell at a given price.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Law of Demand ===========================================================

Introduction

The law of demand is a fundamental concept in economics that describes the relationship between price and demand. In our previous article, we explored the relationship between price and demand using the example of Pattie's Produce. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the law of demand.

Q: What is the law of demand?

A: The law of demand states that as the price of a good increases, the quantity demanded decreases, and vice versa. This means that higher prices make the good less attractive to consumers, leading to a decrease in demand.

Q: What are the factors that affect the law of demand?

A: The law of demand is affected by several factors, including:

Income: An increase in income can lead to an increase in demand, as consumers have more money to spend.
Price: An increase in price can lead to a decrease in demand, as consumers are less willing to pay more for a good.
Substitutes: The availability of substitutes can affect demand, as consumers may choose a different good if it is cheaper or more convenient.
Demographics: Changes in demographics, such as population growth or changes in consumer preferences, can affect demand.
Seasonality: Demand can be affected by seasonal changes, such as the demand for winter clothing or summer vacation packages.

Q: What are the types of demand?

A: There are several types of demand, including:

Direct demand: Direct demand refers to the demand for a good or service that is directly related to the price of the good or service.
Indirect demand: Indirect demand refers to the demand for a good or service that is indirectly related to the price of the good or service.
Derived demand: Derived demand refers to the demand for a good or service that is derived from the demand for another good or service.

Q: What are the factors that affect the elasticity of demand?

A: The elasticity of demand is affected by several factors, including:

Price: A change in price can affect the elasticity of demand, as consumers may be more or less sensitive to price changes.
Income: A change in income can affect the elasticity of demand, as consumers may be more or less sensitive to price changes.
Substitutes: The availability of substitutes can affect the elasticity of demand, as consumers may choose a different good if it is cheaper or more convenient.
Demographics: Changes in demographics, such as population growth or changes in consumer preferences, can affect the elasticity of demand.

Q: What is the difference between elastic and inelastic demand?

A: Elastic demand refers to a situation where a small change in price leads to a large change in quantity demanded. Inelastic demand refers to a situation where a small change in price leads to a small change in quantity demanded.

Q: What are the implications of the law of demand?

A: The law of demand has several implications, including:

Price elasticity: The law of demand implies that price elasticity is a measure of how responsive demand is to changes in price.
Revenue: The law of demand implies that revenue is affected by changes in price and quantity demanded.
Profit: The law of demand implies that profit is affected by changes in price and quantity demanded.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the law of demand is a fundamental concept in economics that describes the relationship between price and demand. Understanding the law of demand is crucial for making informed decisions in business and economics. We hope that this article has helped to answer some of the frequently asked questions about the law of demand.

Glossary

Law of Demand: The law of demand states that as the price of a good increases, the quantity demanded decreases, and vice versa.
Price: The amount of money that a consumer pays for a good or service.
Demand: The quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at a given price.
Supply: The quantity of a good or service that producers are willing and able to sell at a given price.
Elasticity of Demand: The elasticity of demand refers to the responsiveness of demand to changes in price.
Price Elasticity: Price elasticity refers to the responsiveness of demand to changes in price.
Revenue: Revenue refers to the total amount of money received from the sale of a good or service.
Profit: Profit refers to the difference between revenue and cost.