AP Microeconomics Quiz: Demand

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Demand, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for AP Microeconomics.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. A decrease in demand caused by fewer buyers in the market.
2. An increase in demand caused by higher consumer income.
3. A movement along $D_1$ showing an increase in quantity demanded. (correct answer)
4. A rightward shift of demand caused by a lower price of movie tickets.
5. A movement along $D_1$ showing a decrease in quantity demanded.

Explanation: This question tests your ability to interpret demand graphs, specifically identifying movements along a demand curve versus shifts of the curve. Demand is the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded shown by the curve, while quantity demanded is the specific amount consumers will buy at a given price; the law of demand tells us these are inversely related. The graph shows the market moving from point A to point B along the same demand curve D₁, which occurs when only the price changes while all other factors remain constant. Since the ticket price falls and we move down along D₁ to point B, this represents an increase in quantity demanded (not a shift in demand), making choice C correct. A common error is confusing movements along the curve (caused by price changes) with shifts of the entire curve (caused by changes in determinants like income, tastes, or prices of related goods). To analyze demand graphs, always check whether you're looking at different points on the same curve (movement along) or comparing two different curves (shift). When price alone changes, you move along the existing curve; when any other determinant changes, the entire curve shifts.

Question 2

1. Demand for tablets increased due to a change in consumer expectations.
2. Demand for tablets decreased due to a fall in price.
3. Quantity demanded increased due to a movement along $D_1$. (correct answer)
4. Demand shifted right because the price of tablets fell.
5. Quantity demanded decreased because the price fell.

Explanation: This question tests your ability to interpret demand graphs and distinguish between movements along a curve versus shifts of the curve. Demand represents the complete price-quantity relationship shown by the curve, while quantity demanded is the specific amount consumers buy at one price; the law of demand indicates these are inversely related. The graph shows movement from point A to point B along the same demand curve D₁, which occurs when only the tablet's price changes while all other determinants remain constant. Since price decreases and we move down along D₁ from A to B, this represents an increase in quantity demanded (not a demand shift), making choice C correct. A common error is thinking that price decreases shift demand rightward, but a good's own price changes only cause movements along the existing curve, never shifts. To correctly interpret demand graphs, always check if you're comparing points on one curve (movement along from price change) or comparing different curves (shift from determinant change). When price falls and you move down a demand curve, quantity demanded increases following the law of demand.