EconLearn

Supply vs Quantity Supplied

Supply and Quantity Supplied are two Supply & Demand concepts in AP Economics that students often mix up. In short: supply is supply is the willingness and ability of producers to sell different quantities of a good at different prices, holding all else constant. Meanwhile, quantity supplied is quantity supplied is the amount of a good or service producers are willing and able to offer for sale at a given price. Here is how they compare side by side.

Supply

Supply is the willingness and ability of producers to sell different quantities of a good at different prices, holding all else constant.

The supply of a good represents the different quantities producers are willing and able to sell at each price level. Supply is determined by factors like technology, input costs, and government policies. The law of supply states that supply curves slope upward, showing a positive relationship between price and quantity supplied.

Quantity Supplied

Quantity supplied is the amount of a good or service producers are willing and able to offer for sale at a given price.

The quantity supplied is determined by the market price, holding all else constant. As price rises, quantity supplied also rises. Producers use the concept to determine output levels and pricing strategies. It is graphically represented by the supply curve.

Get AP Econ exam tips in your inbox

Occasional emails with study tips, new interactive graphs, and exam-season reminders. Free — no spam.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

← Back to the glossary
AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, EconLearn.