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The correct answer is option 2: < I.
Price elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of demand to a change in price. It is calculated by dividing the percentage change in quantity demanded by the percentage change in price.
In this case, when the price of a commodity falls, the total expenditure on that commodity will decrease if the demand is relatively inelastic. This means that the quantity demanded does not change significantly in response to a change in price.
On the other hand, when the price of a commodity increases, the total expenditure on that commodity will increase if the demand is relatively elastic. This means that the quantity demanded changes significantly in response to a change in price.
Therefore, if a fall in price reduces total expenditure and a rise in price increases it, it indicates that the demand for the commodity is relatively inelastic. The price elasticity of demand in this situation would be less than 1 (< 1), as a small change in price leads to a proportionally smaller change in quantity demanded.
Alert - correct answer should be option 3: > 1.