Elasticity - Own Price Elasticity of Demand

If demand is elastic we saw that the %

Q will be the larger change. Thus:

Revenue (or total expenditure) will change in the same direction as quantity, if demand is elastic.

So, whichever change is greater, in absolute value, determines what happens to revenue (or total expenditure). This makes perfect sense. If price increases by 2% but quantity demanded falls by 4%, it only makes sense that revenue (or total expenditure) would fall. Even though more per unit is being spent, the reduction in overall purchase is the greater factor. Therefore, price and revenue change in opposite directions, when demand is elastic.