📚 Learning Guide
Price Elasticity and Revenue
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A firm is currently operating in the elastic range of its demand curve. It decides to lower its price significantly. What is the most likely outcome regarding total revenue and why?

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Choose the Best Answer

A

Total revenue will increase because the quantity demanded will increase significantly due to the elasticity of demand.

B

Total revenue will decrease because lower prices always lead to lower total revenue.

C

Total revenue will remain unchanged, as price and quantity demanded will offset each other.

D

Total revenue will fluctuate unpredictably, making it difficult to determine the outcome.

Understanding the Answer

Let's break down why this is correct

Answer

When a firm operates in the elastic range of its demand curve, it means that consumers are very responsive to price changes. If the firm lowers its price significantly, the quantity demanded will increase by a larger percentage than the price decrease. This leads to higher total revenue because the extra sales from the lower price more than compensate for the reduced price per unit. For example, if a store sells a toy for $10 and lowers the price to $8, and as a result, sells 50 more toys, the increase in revenue from those extra sales can greatly exceed the loss from the lower price. Thus, in this situation, total revenue is likely to increase.

Detailed Explanation

When a firm lowers its price in the elastic range, more people want to buy the product. Other options are incorrect because This answer suggests that lower prices always mean lower revenue; This option thinks price and quantity will balance each other out.

Key Concepts

Price Elasticity of Demand
Total Revenue
Monopolistic Competition
Topic

Price Elasticity and Revenue

Difficulty

medium level question

Cognitive Level

understand

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