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(a) Define cross elasticity of demand. (b) The table below shows the response of ...

(a) Define cross elasticity of demand.
(b) The table below shows the response of quantity demanded to changes in price for three pairs of commodities.
Use the table to answer the questions that follow.
Commoditychanges in pricecommodityChanges in Quantity Demanded
Original Price (N) New price (N) Original Quantity (kg) New Quantity (kg)
Bread 15 20 Yam 150 200
Beef 25 40 Fish 1,000 3,000
Butter 100 50 Margarine 250 400



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    Correct Answer: Option n
    Explanation:
    (a)Cross elasticity of demand is the degree of responsiveness of demand for a commodity to changes in the price of another commodity. It is the proportionate change in the quantity of goods (x) demanded over the proportionate change in the price of another goods (y) demanded.
    = % change in quantity demanded of commodity x
    ,% change in price of commodity yor
    change \(\frac{QX} {QX} \times \frac{PY} {DPY}\)
    b(i) Cross elasticities of demand for bread and yam
    Let X = Yam, Y = Bread
    New demand = 200kg,
    Initial demand = 150kg
    Change in demand = 200 -150 = 50kg
    Initial price = N15,
    New price = N20
    Change in price = 20 - 15 = N5
    \(\frac{200-150} {150}\) x 100 = 33.3%
    \(\frac{20 -15} {15}\) x 100 = 33.3%
    or
    change QX x PY = 50 x 15 = 750 = 1
    Py Qx 5 150 750
    (ii) Beef and fish: Let x = fish, y = Beef
    Initial demand = 1000kg,
    New demand = 3000kg
    Change in demand = 3000 - 1000 = 2000kg
    Initial price = N25
    New price = N40
    Change in price = N40 - N25 = N15
    Cross elasticity = change in \(\frac{Qx}{Qx} \times \frac{Py}{Py}\)
    \(\frac{2000}{1000} \times \frac{25}{15}\)
    = \(\frac{10}{3}\) = 3.3
    or
    \(\frac{3000-1000} {1000}\) x 100= \(\frac{200}{60}\) = 3.3
    \(\frac{40-20} {25}\) x 100
    iii Let x = Margarine,
    y = Butter
    Initial demand = 250kg
    New demand = 400kg
    Change in demand = 400 - 250 = 150kg
    Initial price = N100
    New price = N150
    Change in price = N150 - N100 = N50
    Cross elasticity = \(\frac{-QX}{QX}\)
    \(\frac{PY}{PY}\)
    = \(\frac{150}{50} \times \frac{100}{50}\) = \(\frac{6}{5}\) = 1.2
    or
    \(\frac{400 - 250}{250}\) x 100
    = \(\frac{60}{50}\) = 1.2
    \(\frac{150 - 100}{100}\) x 100 =50

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