amount of $2.00 from C to D. As a result, a demand curve with constant unitary elasticity moves from a steeper

slope on the left and a flatter slope on the right—and a curved shape overall.

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5.2 • Polar Cases of Elasticity and Constant Elasticity 119

FIGURE 5.6 A Constant Unitary Elasticity Demand Curve A demand curve with constant unitary elasticity will be a

curved line. Notice how price and quantity demanded change by an identical percentage amount between each pair

of points on the demand curve.

Unlike the demand curve with unitary elasticity, the supply curve with unitary elasticity is represented by a

straight line, and that line goes through the origin. In each pair of points on the supply curve there is an equal

difference in quantity of 30. However, in percentage value, using the midpoint method, the steps are

decreasing as one moves from left to right, from 28.6% to 22.2% to 18.2%, because the quantity points in each
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