A product sells according to the demand function \( q=16 p-p^{2} \). Find the price elasticity of demand when the selling price is \( \$ 11.51 \). The price elasticity of demand is increase revenue, the price must ? when the price is \( \$ 11.51 \) dollars. To
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To find the price elasticity of demand when the selling price is \( p = 11.51 \), we first need to compute the quantity demanded \( q \) at that price. Substituting \( p \) into the demand function gives us \( q = 16 \times 11.51 - (11.51)^2 = 184.16 - 132.49 = 51.67 \). Now we find the derivative of \( q \) with respect to \( p \), which is \( \frac{dq}{dp} = 16 - 2p \). Evaluating this at \( p = 11.51 \) gives us \( \frac{dq}{dp} = 16 - 2 \times 11.51 = -7.02 \). Now, we can calculate the price elasticity of demand using the formula: \[ E_d = \frac{dq}{dp} \times \frac{p}{q} \] Substituting the values we have: \[ E_d = -7.02 \times \frac{11.51}{51.67} \approx -1.58 \] Since the price elasticity of demand is negative and has an absolute value greater than 1, it indicates that the demand is elastic. To increase revenue, the price must decrease when the price is \( \$ 11.51 \) dollars. When it comes to interpreting elasticity, it’s important to remember that a price cut may lead to a more than proportional increase in quantity sold, benefiting overall revenue. Conversely, a price increase could severely affect sales volume. Adjusting prices skillfully based on elasticity can turn a dull sales day into a profit party! For more in-depth exploration of price elasticity and demand, books like "Principles of Economics" by N. Gregory Mankiw or "Microeconomics" by Paul Krugman provide excellent theories and real-world applications. Additionally, online resources like Khan Academy offer free video tutorials that make complex economic concepts more digestible and engaging.