Question

What is the difference between the demand and the quantity demanded of a product, say milk? Explain in words and show the difference on a graph with a demand curve for milk.

Short answer

The difference between demand and quantity demanded lies in their scope. Demand represents the entire relationship between price and the quantity of a product (e.g., milk) that consumers are willing and able to purchase at various price points, while quantity demanded focuses on consumers' willingness and ability to buy a specific amount of that product at a single price point. On a graph, the demand curve for milk shows the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded, whereas the point where a horizontal line intersects the demand curve at a particular price represents the quantity demanded at that specific price level.

Step-by-step solution

Define demand

Demand refers to the overall desire, willingness, and ability of consumers to buy a particular product at various price points during a specific time period. It is the entire relationship between price and the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase.

Define quantity demanded

Quantity demanded, on the other hand, represents the specific amount of a product that consumers are willing and able to buy at a particular price point. In simple terms, it represents a single point on the demand curve.

Explain the difference between demand and quantity demanded

The key difference between demand and quantity demanded lies in the scope of their perspective. While demand represents a broader concept that encompasses consumers' willingness and ability to purchase a given product at various price levels, quantity demanded focuses on the consumers' willingness and ability to buy a specific amount of that product at a single price point. In other words, demand describes the entire relationship between price and the amount that consumers are willing to buy, whereas quantity demanded looks at the consumers' purchase intent at one specific price level.

Draw the demand curve for milk

To demonstrate the difference between demand and quantity demanded on a graph, we will plot a demand curve for milk with price on the vertical axis (Y-axis) and quantity demanded on the horizontal axis (X-axis). 1. Label the Y-axis as 'Price' and the X-axis as 'Quantity Demanded'. 2. Draw a downward sloping curve, starting from the top left of the graph and extending towards the bottom right. This curve represents the demand curve for milk, meaning that as the price of milk decreases, the quantity demanded will increase. Conversely, as the price of milk increases, the quantity demanded will decrease. 3. Pick a particular price level on the Y-axis and create a horizontal line that intersects the demand curve. The point where this line intersects the demand curve represents the quantity demanded at this specific price level.

Illustrate the difference between demand and quantity demanded on the graph

Finally, to highlight the difference between demand and quantity demanded: 1. Point out the demand curve itself as the representation of demand, as it captures the entire relationship between the price of milk and the amount consumers are willing and able to buy at various price points. 2. Indicate the point where the horizontal line from the chosen price level intersects the demand curve as the representation of quantity demanded since it shows the specific amount of milk consumers are willing and able to buy at that particular price.