# Elasticity of Demand : Meaning, Importance and its classification

## Meaning of Elasticity of Demand:

Elasticity of Demand measures the degree change  price or other factors have a big effect on the quantity consumers want to buy. It includes change in quantity of commodity, change in price and change in consumers income.

Elasticity of demand mainly have three types :

• Price Elasticity.

• Income Elasticity.

• Cross Elasticity.

(1). Price Elasticity of Demand

Price elasticity of demand means  the degree of responsiveness of quantity demanded of a good to a change in its price. Some popular definitions of the price elasticity of demand are :

” Elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness  of demand to change in price.”                                                                                                                                                                               – KennetBoulding.

“The Elasticity of demand for a commodity is the rate  at which quantity bought changes as the price change.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            – A.K.Caironcross.

“The ratio of proportionate change in the quantity demanded of a good caused by a given proportionate change in price”.

### Formula:

The formula for measuring price elasticity of demand is :

Price Elasticity of Demand = Percentage in Quantity Demand

Percentage Change in Price

Ep = Δq X P

Δp    Q

Where, EP= Price elasticity of demand

q= Original quantity demanded

∆q = Change in quantity demanded

p= Original price

∆p = Change in price

### Example:

Suppose that price of a commodity falls down from Rs.10 to Rs.9 per unit and due to this, quantity demanded of the commodity increased from 100 units to 120 units. What is the price elasticity of demand?

Give that,

p= initial price= Rs.10

q= initial quantity demanded= 100 units

∆p=change in price=Rs. (10-9) = Rs.1

∆q=change in quantity demanded= (120-100) units = 20 units

Now,

Ep = Δ20 X 10

Δ1     100

–      2                                                                                                                                                                                    1

2%

The quantity demanded increases by 2% due to fall in price by Rs.1.

Degree of Price Elasticity Of Demand :

1). Perfectly Elastic Demand

The demand is said to be perfectly elastic if the quantity demanded increases infinitely  with a small fall in price or quantity demanded falls to zero with a small rise in price.

2). Perfectly Inelastic Demand

When demand remain constant if price increases or decreases, the demand is said to be perfectly inelastic.

3).Relatively elastic Demand

Demand is said to be relatively elastic if the percentage change in demand is greater than the percentage change in price i.e. if there is a greater change in demand there is a small change in price. It is also called highly elastic demand or simply elastic demand.

4). Relatively Inelastic Demand

The demand is said to be relatively inelastic if the percentage change in quantity demanded is less than the percentage change in price.

5). Unitary Elastic Demand

If the percentage change in quantity demanded is equal to the percentage change in price that is called as unitary elastic demand. In such type of demand, 1% change in price leads to exactly 1% change in quantity demanded.

## (2) Income Elasticity of Demand:

Income elasticity of demand effects the quantity demanded of a commodity , it means when there is a change in the level of income of a consumer, there is a change in the quantity demanded of a good, other factors remaining the same.

“The ratio of percentage change in the quantity of a good purchased, per unit of time to a percentage change in the income of a consumer”.

### Formula:

The formula for measuring the income elasticity of demand is the percentage change in demand for a good divided by the percentage change in income. Putting this in symbol gives.

Ey = Percentage Change in Demand

Percentage Change in Income

Simplified formula:

Ey = Δq X P

Δp    Q

Example:

A simple example will show how income elasticity of demand can be calculated. Let us assume that the income of a person is \$4000 per month and he purchases six CD’s per month. Let us assume that the monthly income of the consumer increase to \$6000 and the quantity demanded of CD’s per month rises to eight. The CD’s elasticity of demand will be calculated as under:

Δq  =  8 – 6 = 2

Δp = \$6000 – \$4000 = \$2000

Original quantity demanded = 6

Original income = \$4000

Ey = Δq / Δp x P / Q = 2 / 200 x 4000 / 6 = 0.66

The income elasticity is 0.66 which is less than one.

## (3) Cross Elasticity of Demand:

When the demand for a commodity changes with the change in the change in price of another related goods.

“The percentage change in the demand of one good as a result of the percentage change in the price of another good”.

## Formula:

The formula for measuring, cross, elasticity of demand is:

Exy = % Change in Quantity Demanded of Good X

% Change in Price of Good Y

The numerical value of cross elasticity depends on whether the two goods in question are substitutes, complements or unrelated.

So we have studied Elasticity of Demand : Meaning, Importance and its classification and if you have any queries please let us know in the comments section.
The text passage provides an overview of the concept of elasticity of demand, including its types (price, income, and cross elasticity) and formulas for calculating each. It also includes examples for calculating price and income elasticity of demand.
multiple_questions_with_answers

1. the first example provides a question and answer for calculating price elasticity of demand:
   - question: "suppose that price of a commodity falls down from rs.10 to rs.9 per unit and due to this, quantity demanded of the commodity increased from 100 units to 120 units. what is the price elasticity of demand?"
   - answer: the price elasticity of demand is 2%.

2. the second example provides a question and answer for calculating income elasticity of demand:
   - question: "a simple example will show how income elasticity of demand can be calculated. let us assume that the income of a person is \$4000 per month and he purchases six cd’s per month. let us assume that the monthly income of the consumer increases to \$6000 and the quantity demanded of cd’s per month rises to eight. the cd’s elasticity of demand will be calculated as under:"
   - answer: the income elasticity is
Given a text passage, determine:
    1. If it contains a mathematical question (including word problems or calculations)
    2. If an answer to that mathematical question is provided in the text

First, describe the content structure you found in 1-2 sentences.

Then provide your analysis in the following format:
TYPE: <one of the following values>
- NO_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS_WITH_ANSWERS
system
# Elasticity of Demand : Meaning, Importance and its classification

## Meaning of Elasticity of Demand:

Elasticity of Demand measures the degree change  price or other factors have a big effect on the quantity consumers want to buy. It includes change in quantity of commodity, change in price and change in consumers income.

Elasticity of demand mainly have three types :

• Price Elasticity.

• Income Elasticity.

• Cross Elasticity.

(1). Price Elasticity of Demand

Price elasticity of demand means  the degree of responsiveness of quantity demanded of a good to a change in its price. Some popular definitions of the price elasticity of demand are :

” Elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness  of demand to change in price.”                                                                                                                                                                               – KennetBoulding.

“The Elasticity of demand for a commodity is the rate  at which quantity bought changes as the price change.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            – A.K.Caironcross.

“The ratio of proportionate change in the quantity demanded of a good caused by a given proportionate change in price”.

### Formula:

The formula for measuring price elasticity of demand is :

Price Elasticity of Demand = Percentage in Quantity Demand

Percentage Change in Price

Ep = Δq X P

Δp    Q

Where, EP= Price elasticity of demand

q= Original quantity demanded

∆q = Change in quantity demanded

p= Original price

∆p = Change in price

### Example:

Suppose that price of a commodity falls down from Rs.10 to Rs.9 per unit and due to this, quantity demanded of the commodity increased from 100 units to 120 units. What is the price elasticity of demand?

Give that,

p= initial price= Rs.10

q= initial quantity demanded= 100 units

∆p=change in price=Rs. (10-9) = Rs.1

∆q=change in quantity demanded= (120-100) units = 20 units

Now,

Ep = Δ20 X 10

Δ1     100

–      2                                                                                                                                                                                    1

2%

The quantity demanded increases by 2% due to fall in price by Rs.1.

Degree of Price Elasticity Of Demand :

1). Perfectly Elastic Demand

The demand is said to be perfectly elastic if the quantity demanded increases infinitely  with a small fall in price or quantity demanded falls to zero with a small rise in price.

2). Perfectly Inelastic Demand

When demand remain constant if price increases or decreases, the demand is said to be perfectly inelastic.

3).Relatively elastic Demand

Demand is said to be relatively elastic if the percentage change in demand is greater than the percentage change in price i.e. if there is a greater change in demand there is a small change in price. It is also called highly elastic demand or simply elastic demand.

4). Relatively Inelastic Demand

The demand is said to be relatively inelastic if the percentage change in quantity demanded is less than the percentage change in price.

5). Unitary Elastic Demand

If the percentage change in quantity demanded is equal to the percentage change in price that is called as unitary elastic demand. In such type of demand, 1% change in price leads to exactly 1% change in quantity demanded.

## (2) Income Elasticity of Demand:

Income elasticity of demand effects the quantity demanded of a commodity , it means when there is a change in the level of income of a consumer, there is a change in the quantity demanded of a good, other factors remaining the same.

“The ratio of percentage change in the quantity of a good purchased, per unit of time to a percentage change in the income of a consumer”.

### Formula:

The formula for measuring the income elasticity of demand is the percentage change in demand for a good divided by the percentage change in income. Putting this in symbol gives.

Ey = Percentage Change in Demand

Percentage Change in Income

Simplified formula:

Ey = Δq X P

Δp    Q

Example:

A simple example will show how income elasticity of demand can be calculated. Let us assume that the income of a person is \$4000 per month and he purchases six CD’s per month. Let us assume that the monthly income of the consumer increase to \$6000 and the quantity demanded of CD’s per month rises to eight. The CD’s elasticity of demand will be calculated as under:

Δq  =  8 – 6 = 2

Δp = \$6000 – \$4000 = \$2000

Original quantity demanded = 6

Original income = \$4000

Ey = Δq / Δp x P / Q = 2 / 200 x 4000 / 6 = 0.66

The income elasticity is 0.66 which is less than one.

## (3) Cross Elasticity of Demand:

When the demand for a commodity changes with the change in the change in price of another related goods.

“The percentage change in the demand of one good as a result of the percentage change in the price of another good”.

## Formula:

The formula for measuring, cross, elasticity of demand is:

Exy = % Change in Quantity Demanded of Good X

% Change in Price of Good Y

The numerical value of cross elasticity depends on whether the two goods in question are substitutes, complements or unrelated.

So we have studied Elasticity of Demand : Meaning, Importance and its classification and if you have any queries please let us know in the comments section.
user
The text passage provides an overview of the concept of elasticity of demand, including its types (price, income, and cross elasticity) and formulas for calculating each. It also includes examples for calculating price and income elasticity of demand.

TYPE: MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS_WITH_ANSWERS

1. The first example provides a question and answer for calculating price elasticity of demand:
   - Question: "Suppose that price of a commodity falls down from Rs.10 to Rs.9 per unit and due to this, quantity demanded of the commodity increased from 100 units to 120 units. What is the price elasticity of demand?"
   - Answer: The price elasticity of demand is 2%.

2. The second example provides a question and answer for calculating income elasticity of demand:
   - Question: "A simple example will show how income elasticity of demand can be calculated. Let us assume that the income of a person is \$4000 per month and he purchases six CD’s per month. Let us assume that the monthly income of the consumer increases to \$6000 and the quantity demanded of CD’s per month rises to eight. The CD’s elasticity of demand will be calculated as under:"
   - Answer: The income elasticity is