The concept we are discussing here is the Price Elasticity of Demand (PED). It measures how much the quantity demanded of a commodity changes with a change in its price. The formula for calculating the price elasticity of demand is:
PED = (% Change in Quantity Demanded) / (% Change in Price)
First, we calculate the percentage change in quantity demanded:
- Initial quantity demanded = 100 units
- New quantity demanded = 80 units
- Change in quantity demanded = New quantity demanded - Initial quantity demanded = 80 - 100 = -20 units
Percentage change in quantity demanded:
= (Change in quantity demanded / Initial quantity demanded) × 100
= (-20 / 100) × 100 = -20%
Next, calculate the percentage change in price:
- Initial price = N8.00
- New price = N10.00
- Change in price = New price - Initial price = N10.00 - N8.00 = N2.00
Percentage change in price:
= (Change in price / Initial price) × 100
= (2 / 8) × 100 = 25%
Now, we can substitute these values into the formula for PED:
PED = (% Change in Quantity Demanded) / (% Change in Price)
= (-20%) / (25%)
= -0.8
The price elasticity of demand is -0.8. The negative sign indicates that there is an inverse relationship between price and quantity demanded, which is normal for most goods. This value rounded to the nearest value provided in your options is 0.8. This implies it is inelastic demand, meaning the quantity demanded is not very responsive to price changes.