Question

A coffee company lowers the price of its one-pound bags of coffee from $10 to $9 and as a result, the quantity demanded increases from 4 million to 5 million units.

Assuming the company's demand curve is linear, what is the slope of the demand curve? Please treat the quantity increase as an increase from 4 to 5, ignoring the millions. [Recall, one formula for slope is Rise / Run]

Answer 1

Slope = -1

Step-by-step explanation:

Demand is buyers ability & willingness to buy at a price, time.

Demand Curve is graphical representation of quantity demanded at various prices at y axis, demand at x axis.

Slope = Change in Y i.e ∆Y / Change in X i.e ∆X

'Slope of Demand Curve' is a varied version of 'Price Elasticity of Demand' i.e quantity demanded responsiveness to change in price. Former shows relative change in quantity demanded over a change in price & latter shows change in price for a given change in quantity demanded.

Demand Curve Price at Y axis, Quantity at Axis, Slope= ∆Y/∆X becomes

= ∆P/∆Q. As per given details, ∆P/∆Q = (9-10)/(5-4) = -1/1 = -1