<p>Elasticity is defined at a point.</p>
<p><span class="math-container">$$ \frac{\partial Q}{\partial P} * \frac{P}{Q} $$</span></p>
<p>A more or less elastic curve just means that the elasticity is higher or lower  in general. For example, if you have the two demand curves</p>
<p><span class="math-container">$$ q = -\frac{1}{4}p + 8 $$</span>
<span class="math-container">$$ q = -\frac{1}{2}p + 12 $$</span></p>
<p>If you plug in the same price points or quantity points, you will get higher elasticities for the second equation and lower elasticities for the first. So we talk about the second curve being more elastic and the first curve being more inelastic, but its because each is characterized as such by the elasticities at its points.</p>

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2021-12-09T18:59:14.550Z
2021-12-09T18:59:14.550Z
kleinerde
<p>My textbook mentions that the slope of a linear demand curve gives crucial information regarding price elasticity of demand; namely, that demand is inelastic for steeper curves and elastic for flatter ones. Later they also demarcate different regions of the curve, where the region to the northwest of the curve's midpoint shows elastic demand, and the region southeast of the midpoint inelastic demand.</p>
<p>I'm a little confused however on how to combine these two aspects. If you have for example a very steep linear demand curve, which is indicative of inelastic demand, but equilibrium price and quantity are in the elastic region, is demand then elastic or inelastic?</p>

<microeconomics><supply-and-demand><elasticity>
Slope of linear demand curve and price elasticity regions along the curve
maxfiction
# Slope of linear demand curve and price elasticity regions along the curve

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-12-09)

My textbook mentions that the slope of a linear demand curve gives crucial information regarding price elasticity of demand; namely, that demand is inelastic for steeper curves and elastic for flatter ones. Later they also demarcate different regions of the curve, where the region to the northwest of the curve's midpoint shows elastic demand, and the region southeast of the midpoint inelastic demand.

I'm a little confused however on how to combine these two aspects. If you have for example a very steep linear demand curve, which is indicative of inelastic demand, but equilibrium price and quantity are in the elastic region, is demand then elastic or inelastic?

**Tags:** microeconomics, supply-and-demand, elasticity

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-12-09. Score: 1

Elasticity is defined at a point.

$$ \frac{\partial Q}{\partial P} \* \frac{P}{Q} $$

A more or less elastic curve just means that the elasticity is higher or lower in general. For example, if you have the two demand curves

$$ q = -\frac{1}{4}p + 8 $$
$$ q = -\frac{1}{2}p + 12 $$

If you plug in the same price points or quantity points, you will get higher elasticities for the second equation and lower elasticities for the first. So we talk about the second curve being more elastic and the first curve being more inelastic, but its because each is characterized as such by the elasticities at its points.


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