Demand is defined as the amount of goods and services that consumers want and are able to purchase at a given price. The law of demand states that demand decreases as price increases - as prices rise, consumers will buy less of a good. This relationship is depicted through a demand curve, which typically slopes downward to the right. A shift in the demand curve occurs when demand increases or decreases for reasons other than price changes, such as changes in consumer income. The demand function can be used to mathematically represent the relationship between price and quantity demanded. Factors that influence demand include price, income, tastes, population size, expectations about the future, and needs.