Thursday 2 December 2010

Suppose the market demand and market supply for coffee is given by the Qd = 850 – 15P Qs = 400 + 30P

A. Find quantity demanded and quantity supplied when the price of
coffee is Rs. 8. Is there a surplus or shortage in the production of
coffee? What should happen to the price of coffee?
B. Find the equilibrium price for  coffee by using given demand and
supply equations.
C. Prove that the price found in part (B) is an equilibrium price.
D. Show the equilibrium condition in coffee market graphically.



Solution Part A: Quantity demanded is found by letting P equal to Rs. 8 in the demand equation.
Thus, 
                                                     Qd = 850 – 15P
                                                           = 850 – 15(8)
                                                           = 850 – 120
                                                           = 730
Similarly,
                                                     Qs = 400 + 30P
                                                          = 400 + 30(8)
                                                          = 400 + 240
                                                          = 640


There is a shortage of production since 730 units are demanded and 640 units
are supplied when the price per unit is Rs. 8. There is therefore  upward
pressure on the Rs. 8 price for coffee.

Solution Part B: The equilibrium price for coffee is found by equating Qd and Qs.
Qd = Qs
850 – 15P = 400+30P
30P + 15P = 850 – 400
45P = 450
P = 10

Solution Part C: At equilibrium, the quantity demanded must equal the quantity supplied.
Substituting the Rs.10 equilibrium price into the market demand and market
supply equations:


Qs = 400 +30P                                                   Qd = 850 – 15P
      = 400 + 30(10)                                                   = 850 – 15 (10)
      = 400 + 300                                                        = 850 - 150
      = 700                                                                  = 700
                                                                      
We find that quantity demanded and quantity supplied each equals 700 units.
Solution Part D:

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