Which of the following best describes the difference between supply and quantity supplied?

• A. Supply refers to the amount consumers are willing to buy, while quantity supplied refers to the amount producers are willing to sell.
• B. Supply refers to the entire relationship between price and the amount producers are willing to sell, while quantity supplied refers to the specific amount offered at a particular price.
• C. Supply and quantity supplied are interchangeable terms that both refer to the amount offered for sale at any price.
• D. Supply is the amount producers sell at a given price, while quantity supplied is the total amount sold in the market.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of 'supply' in microeconomics. Supply refers to the entire relationship between the price of a good and the quantity of that good that producers are willing and able to sell. This relationship is often represented by the supply curve, which shows how quantity supplied changes as price changes.
2. Step 2: Understand the concept of 'quantity supplied.' Quantity supplied is the specific amount of a good that producers are willing to sell at a particular price. It is a single point on the supply curve corresponding to one price level.
3. Step 3: Recognize the key difference: 'Supply' is a function or schedule showing quantities supplied at all possible prices, while 'quantity supplied' is a single value from that function at a specific price.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the given options by comparing them to these definitions. The correct description should highlight that supply is the entire relationship (the supply curve), and quantity supplied is the amount at a specific price.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best description is the one stating: 'Supply refers to the entire relationship between price and the amount producers are willing to sell, while quantity supplied refers to the specific amount offered at a particular price.'