# Simple (not for me) algebra problem

• Mar 11th 2011, 07:45 AM
flashylightsmeow
Simple (not for me) algebra problem
I'm working from a book called Mathematics for Economics and Finance (Martin Anthony and Norman Biggs) I have a problem with one of their damn examples on supply and demand.

the supply set is S={(p,q)|q=bp-a} and D={(p,q)|q=c-dp}

when an excise tax is imposed i need to find the equilibrium quantity ( $q^{T}$)

this is found by finding the equilibrium price ( $p^{T}$)

So I solve simultaneously and get:

$p^{T}=\frac{(c+a)}{(b+d)}+\frac{bT}{b+d}$

which is in the book. Now I need to find qT which the book states is found by:

$q^{T}=c-dp^{T}=\frac{(bc-ad)}{(b+d)}+\frac{bdT}{b+d}$

I can't figure out how the hell these people managed to get bc-ad, Can someone tell me how they got this!?
• Mar 11th 2011, 09:01 AM
HallsofIvy
Okay, so you know that $p^T= \frac{c+a}{b+d}+ \frac{bT}{b+d}$. You also know that q= c- dp.

So $q= c- \frac{dc+ da}{b+d}- \frac{dc+da}{b+d}- \frac{bT}{b+d}$
$\frac{cb+ cd}{b+d}- \frac{dc+ da}{b+d}- \frac{bdT}{b+d}$

Notice that the two "cd" and "dc" terms cancel, leaving cb- da= bc- ad. Of course, because it is subtracted, $-\frac{bT}{b+d}$ becomes $\frac{bT}{b+d}$.