Worked example
At a price of 4 tokens, buyers demand 30 items and sellers supply 20. What shortage is shown at that price?
Answer & why
Answer: 10 items
Demand exceeds supply by 30 − 20 = 10 items.
Grade 9 · Social studies
Read a simple supply-and-demand table
Interpret an invented market table while separating stated quantities from broader price predictions.
6 authored questions + worked example
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All questions
All 6 authored questions for this skill.
Question 1
The table lists: at 2 tokens, supply 10/demand 30; at 4, supply 20/demand 20; at 6, supply 30/demand 10. Which listed price balances quantity supplied and demanded?
- 2 tokens
- 6 tokens
- 4 tokens
- Every listed price
A hint
Compare quantity supplied and demanded at the same listed price; do not mix rows.
Answer & why
Answer: 4 tokens
Only the 4-token row has equal quantities.
Question 2
At a fixed price, an updated table shows demand increasing from 20 to 35 while supply remains 20. What changed in the listed quantities?
- Excess demand increased by 15 items.
- Demand fell by 15 items.
- Both quantities remained equal.
- Supply increased by 15 items.
A hint
Compare quantity supplied and demanded at the same listed price; do not mix rows.
Answer & why
Answer: Excess demand increased by 15 items.
Demand rose 15 while supply was unchanged.
Question 3
A table describes one town on one day. Which claim requires more evidence than that table provides?
- Supply and demand can be compared within a row.
- The table lists a particular day's quantities.
- The units can be read from the labels.
- The same prices and quantities apply in every town next year.
A hint
Compare quantity supplied and demanded at the same listed price; do not mix rows.
Answer & why
Answer: The same prices and quantities apply in every town next year.
A single setting does not establish conditions in all places and times.
Question 4
At 5 tokens, 18 items are offered and 18 are wanted. Which numerical statement is supported?
- Every seller makes the same profit.
- The item can never change price.
- The stated quantities match at 5 tokens.
- All buyers have equal incomes.
A hint
Compare quantity supplied and demanded at the same listed price; do not mix rows.
Answer & why
Answer: The stated quantities match at 5 tokens.
The row gives equal quantities, not income, profit or future certainty.
Question 5
At a price of 4 tokens, buyers demand 30 items and sellers supply 20. What shortage is shown at that price?
- 10 items
- 50 items
- 20 items
- 0 items
A hint
Compare quantity supplied and demanded at the same listed price; do not mix rows.
Answer & why
Answer: 10 items
Demand exceeds supply by 30 − 20 = 10 items.
Question 6
At 8 tokens, sellers supply 40 items while buyers demand 25. What surplus is shown?
- 65 items
- 15 items
- 0 items
- 25 items
A hint
Compare quantity supplied and demanded at the same listed price; do not mix rows.
Answer & why
Answer: 15 items
Supply exceeds demand by 40 − 25 = 15 items.