<p>Yes -1 elasticity is unit elastic. Elasticity is also often reported in absolute value so |-1|=1. In fact I am almost certain that  whoever told you that &quot; % change in quantity / % change in price = 1,&quot; was talking about absolute value of elasticity because demand is almost always downward sloping with rare exception of Giffen goods.</p>
<p>Also when elasticity is -1 or 1 the change in quantity and price are proportional since that implies 1 percent increase in price leads to 1 percent decrease (increase) in quantity demanded (if we talk about demand elasticity can be computed for other things as well).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-23T16:22:17.217Z
Thanks, that makes most sense. Last question, every time if we use the formula ` % change in quantity / % change in price` to determine elasticity ((like perfectly inelastic, relatively inelastic, unit elastic, perfectly elastic and  relatively elastic)), we are use absolute value, right ? Thanks!
James
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2022-04-23T16:58:29.087Z
@James not every time some people just don’t like negative value for elasticity so they will say elasticity is 1 instead of -1 but rigorous work will usually tell leader that’s it’s expressing it in absolute value
1muflon1
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2022-04-23T08:53:49.167Z
2022-04-23T09:04:46.250Z
2022-04-23T09:04:46.250Z
1muflon1
<p>Simple question but can't find answer.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Is -1 elasticity considered unit elastic or relatively inelastic?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>We know that if % change in quantity / % change in price = 1, we have unit elastic, does that hold true for -1 elasticity?</p>
<p>The top google result for unit elastic is</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In economics, unit elastic (also known as unitary elastic) is a term that describes a situation in which a change in one variable results in an equally proportional change in another variable.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>which use the terms <code>proportional</code>, so is -1 elasticity considered unit elastic?</p>

<microeconomics><elasticity>
Is -1 elasticity considered unit elastic or relatively inelastic?
James
# Is -1 elasticity considered unit elastic or relatively inelastic?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-04-23)

Simple question but can't find answer.

> Is -1 elasticity considered unit elastic or relatively inelastic?

We know that if % change in quantity / % change in price = 1, we have unit elastic, does that hold true for -1 elasticity?

The top google result for unit elastic is

> In economics, unit elastic (also known as unitary elastic) is a term that describes a situation in which a change in one variable results in an equally proportional change in another variable.

which use the terms `proportional`, so is -1 elasticity considered unit elastic?

**Tags:** microeconomics, elasticity

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-04-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Yes -1 elasticity is unit elastic. Elasticity is also often reported in absolute value so |-1|=1. In fact I am almost certain that whoever told you that " % change in quantity / % change in price = 1," was talking about absolute value of elasticity because demand is almost always downward sloping with rare exception of Giffen goods.

Also when elasticity is -1 or 1 the change in quantity and price are proportional since that implies 1 percent increase in price leads to 1 percent decrease (increase) in quantity demanded (if we talk about demand elasticity can be computed for other things as well).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, that makes most sense. Last question, every time if we use the formula ` % change in quantity / % change in price` to determine elasticity ((like perfectly inelastic, relatively inelastic, unit elastic, perfectly elastic and  relatively elastic)), we are use absolute value, right ? Thanks!  
> **username_1**: @James not every time some people just don’t like negative value for elasticity so they will say elasticity is 1 instead of -1 but rigorous work will usually tell leader that’s it’s expressing it in absolute value  

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