Final answer:
To calculate the consumer surplus if the price dropped to $1, additional information such as the original price or the demand curve is needed. Consumer surplus is the difference between what consumers are willing to pay and the market price they actually pay.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the price drops to $1, the consumer surplus a student would enjoy could potentially increase, as she is able to purchase the product at a lower price than what she might have been initially willing to pay. However, to precisely calculate the consumer surplus in this scenario, one would require more information, such as the original price she was willing to pay or the demand curve which shows the relationship between different prices and the quantities demanded. Consumer surplus is generally defined as the difference between the total amount that consumers are willing and able to pay for a good or service (indicated by the demand curve) and the total amount that they actually do pay (the market price). So, without a specific demand curve or additional data points, the exact amount of consumer surplus at a price of $1 cannot be determined.
In an example provided, if the price were $90, consumers paying the equilibrium price of $80 instead would enjoy a consumer surplus represented by the area above the market price and below the demand curve. In the context of our student's question, if the price drops to $1, consumer surplus would be the area above $1 and below the demand curve up to the quantity where she stops purchasing bags.