Deck 8: Cost Analysis and Estimation

Question 1

The amount that must be paid for an item under prevailing market conditions is:

A) historical cost.
B) replacement cost.
C) incremental cost.
D) current cost.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In the short run, the:

A) firm has complete flexibility with respect to input use.
B) availability of all inputs is fixed.
C) operating period is longer than the planning period.
D) availability of at least one input is fixed.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Noncash expenses are:

A) explicit costs.
B) sunk costs.
C) incremental costs.
D) implicit costs.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The acquisition cost of an asset is:

A) a replacement cost.
B) an implicit cost.
C) an explicit cost.
D) an opportunity cost.

Question 5

If a total product curve exhibits increasing returns to a variable input, the cost elasticity is:

A) equal to one.
B) greater than one.
C) unknown, without further information.
D) less than one.

Question 6

The amount paid is:

A) historical cost.
B) opportunity cost.
C) current cost.
D) replacement cost.

Question 7

In the decision process, management should ignore:

A) implicit costs.
B) historical costs.
C) sunk costs.
D) incremental costs.

Question 8

If the productivity of variable factors is decreasing in the short-run:

A) marginal cost must increase as output increases.
B) average cost must decrease as output increases.
C) average cost must increase as output increases.
D) marginal cost must decrease as output increases.

Question 9

The foregone value associated with the current rather than next-best use of a given asset is called:

A) current cost.
B) replacement cost.
C) historical cost.
D) opportunity cost.

Question 10

Fixed costs include:

A) variable labor expenses.
B) output-related energy costs.
C) output-related raw material costs.
D) variable interest costs for borrowed capital.

Question 11

In the decision process, management should always consider:

A) relevant costs.
B) sunk costs.
C) implicit costs only.
D) historical costs.

Question 12

Incremental cost:

A) always equals marginal cost.
B) never involves multiple outs.
C) is the added cost tied to a given managerial decision.
D) is typically less than historical cost.

Question 13

Marginal cost equals:

A) average variable cost at its maximum point.
B) the change in total fixed cost divided by the change in quantity.
C) the change in total variable cost divided by the change in quantity.
D) total cost divided by quantity.

Question 14

Each point on a long-run average cost curve is the minimum:

A) point on the short-run marginal cost curve.
B) short-run average cost of production.
C) long-run average cost of production.
D) point on the short-run average cost curve.

Question 15

In the long run, the:

A) availability of at least one input is fixed.
B) Firm's operating decisions are typically constrained by prior capital expenditures.
C) availability of all but one input is fixed.
D) firm has complete flexibility with respect to input use.

Question 16

A firm's capacity is the output:

A) maximum that can be produced in the long-run.
B) level where short-run average costs are minimized.
C) level where long-run average costs are minimized.
D) maximum that can be produced in the short-run.

Question 17

Incremental cost is the change in:

A) total cost caused by a given managerial decision.
B) noncash expenses caused by a given managerial decision.
C) out-of-pocket costs caused by a given managerial decision.
D) variable cost caused by a given managerial decision.

Question 18

Average cost declines as output expands in a production process with:

A) constant returns to scale.
B) decreasing returns to scale.
C) decreasing returns to a factor input.
D) increasing returns to scale.

Question 19

If the slope of a long-run total cost function decreases as output increases, the firm's underlying production function exhibits:

A) constant returns to scale.
B) decreasing returns to scale.
C) decreasing returns to a factor input.
D) increasing returns to scale.

Question 20

Sunk costs:

A) typically involve multiple units of output.
B) do not vary across decision alternatives.
C) come into play when judging the costs of adding a new product line, advertising campaign, production shift, or organization structure.
D) play a role in determining the optimal course of action.

Question 21

Opportunity cost is not:

A) a real economic cost.
B) an implicit cost.
C) a variable cost.
D) none of these.

Question 22

Profit Contribution Analysis. Kathy's Bakery is a local full-service bakery in Omaha, Nebraska. Kathy sells loaves of wheat bread for $3 a loaf. Of this amount, $1.50 is profit contribution. She is considering an attempt to differentiate her shop from several other competitors by only producing a special rice bread for customers allergic to wheat. Doing so would increase her unit cost by 50¢ per rice loaf. Current monthly profits are $400 on 800 unit sales.
A. Assuming average variable costs are constant at all output levels, what is Kathy's total cost function before the proposed change?
B. What will the total cost function be if rice loafs are produced?
C. Assume rice loaf prices remain stable at $3. What percentage increase in sales would be necessary to maintain current profit levels?

Question 23

The change in cost caused by a given managerial decision is:

A) implicit cost.
B) incremental cost.
C) explicit cost.
D) opportunity cost.

Question 24

Profit Contribution Analysis. San Francisco's Pier 9, Inc., sells souvenir T-shirts at a price of $25. Of this amount, $15 is profit contribution. Pier 9 is considering differentiating its product from several other competitors by using higher quality T-shirts. Doing so would increase unit cost by $2.50 per shirt. Current monthly profits are $10,000 on 2,500 unit sales.
A. Assuming average variable costs are constant at all output levels, what is FWC's total cost function before the proposed change?
B. What will the total cost function be if higher quality t-shirts are used?
C. Assume shirt prices remain stable at $25. What percentage increase in sales would be necessary to maintain current profit levels?

Question 25

Cost Analysis. Demand and supply conditions in the market for unskilled labor are an important concern to business and government decision makers. Consider the case of a federally-mandated minimum wage set above the equilibrium or market clearing wage level. Some of the following factors have the potential to influence the demand or quantity demanded of unskilled labor. Influences on the supply or quantity supplied can also result. Holding all else equal, describe these influences as increasing or decreasing, and indicate the direction of the resulting movement along or shift in the relevant labor demand and/or supply curve(s). Will wage rates rise or fall?
A. An increase in the popularity of self-service restaurants, gas stations, and so on.
B. A rise in welfare benefits.
C. A decrease in the quality of secondary education.
D. A rise in interest rates.
E. An increase in the minimum wage.

Question 26

Incremental Costs. Fluff Rite, Inc., manufactures stove top popcorn poppers that it sells to distributors, who then customize and distribute the products to retailers as house-brand poppers. The yearly volume of output is 100,000 units. The selling price and cost per unit are shown below:
Management is evaluating the alternative of performing the necessary customizing to allow Fluff Rite to sell its output directly to retailers for $26 per unit. Although no added investment is required in productive facilities, additional processing costs are estimated as:

Question 27

Degree of Operating Leverage. DynaLinear, Ltd., produces digital-to-analog converters for compact disk players used by radio stations and audio enthusiasts. It is contemplating an expansion into the moderately-priced home audio market by producing a CD player that would sell at a price of $300. The production of each CD player would require $100 in materials, and 3.75 hours of labor at the rate of $20 per hour for wages and fringe benefits plus variable overhead tied to labor. Energy, supervisory and other variable overhead costs would amount to $50 per unit. The accounting department has derived an allocated fixed overhead charge of $25 per CD player (at a projected volume of 14,000 units) to account for the expected increase in fixed costs.
A. What is DynaLinear's breakeven sales volume (in units) for home audio CD players?
B. Calculate the degree of operating leverage at a projected volume of 14,000 units and explain what the DOL means.

Question 28

The output level at which short-run average costs are minimized is:

A) minimum efficient scale.
B) where multi-plant economies of scale equal one.
C) where multi-plant economies of scale exceed one.
D) capacity.

Question 29

A cost-output relation for a specific plant and operating environment is the:

A) short-run cost curve.
B) long-run total cost curve.
C) long-run marginal cost curve.
D) long-run average cost curve.

Question 30

Breakeven Analysis. The Midtown Filling Station is a gasoline retailer in Denton, Texas. Louie DePalma, proprietor of Midtown, has decided to prepare a financial analysis of the potential of a 24-hour convenience store operation. Opening such a center would require remodeling the filling station and the hiring of additional cash register attendants, but mechanics would still work only from 8 am to 5 pm. Estimated first year expenses for the Midtown's service and convenience center are:
Mechanic and attendant salary expenses are estimated on an hourly basis, reflecting any additional salary and overtime costs. Supplies and remodeling expenses are above and beyond those required for normal facility operations. Equipment costs represent a prorated share of the centers fixed equipment-leasing costs. Electricity costs of $3,000 reflect additional anticipated usage, whereas heat and taxes of $2,000 reflect an allocated share of fixed expenses.

Question 31

Incremental Costs. Electron Control, Inc., sells voltage regulators to other manufacturers, who then customize and distribute the products to quality assurance labs for their sensitive test equipment. The yearly volume of output is 15,000 units. The selling price and cost per unit are shown below:
Management is evaluating the alternative of performing the necessary customizing to allow Electron Control to sell its output directly to Q/A labs for $275 per unit. Although no added investment is required in productive facilities, additional processing costs are estimated as:

Question 32

Breakeven Analysis. Betty's Boutique, Inc. is a beauty salon specializing in full-service beauty treatments: facials, manicures, waxes and tanning booths. The business manager for Betty's has been asked by the owner to prepare a financial analysis of the potential of an extended hours operation. Such a move would require remodeling the facility and the hiring of additional staff. Estimated first year expenses for an extended hours operation are:
Beautician and staff salary expenses are estimated on an hourly basis, reflecting additional salary and overtime costs. Supplies and remodeling expenses are above and beyond those required for normal facility operations. Equipment costs represent a prorated share of the centers fixed equipment-leasing costs. Electricity costs of $4,000 reflect additional anticipated usage, whereas heat and taxes of $5,000 reflect an allocated share of fixed beauty shop expenses.

Question 33

Breakeven Analysis. The Truck Stop is a repair facility specializing in the maintenance and repair of diesel engines just outside of Carlisle, Pennsylvania--one of the largest trucking hubs in the U.S. The business manager of the Truck Stop has been asked by the owners to prepare a financial analysis of the potential of a 24-hour repair operation. Opening such a center would require remodeling the facility and the hiring of some additional staff. Estimated first year expenses for the Truck Stop's diesel service center are:
Mechanic and staff salary expenses are estimated on an hourly basis, reflecting additional salary and overtime costs. Supplies and remodeling expenses are above and beyond those required for normal facility operations. Equipment costs represent a prorated share of the centers fixed equipment-leasing costs. Electricity costs of $2,000 reflect additional anticipated usage, whereas heat and taxes of $6,000 reflect an allocated share of fixed expenses.

Question 34

Profit Contribution Analysis. Ben Laden Rugs, Inc., sells hand-made cotton rugs to tourists at a price of $50. Of this amount, $40 is profit contribution. Ben Laden is considering an attempt to differentiate his product from several other competitors by using high quality natural herb dyes. Doing so would increase Ben Laden's unit cost by $15 per rug. Current annual profits are $35,000 on 1,000 rug sales.
A. Assuming average variable costs are constant at all output levels, what is Ben Laden's total cost function before the proposed change?
B. What will the total cost function be if high quality natural herb dyes are used?
C. Assume rug prices remain stable at $50. What percentage increase in sales would be necessary to maintain current profit levels?

Question 35

Opportunity Costs. Three graduate business students are considering operating a tofu burger stand in the Dalles, Oregon, windsurfing resort area during their summer break. This is an alternative to summer employment with a local fruit cannery where they would earn $7,500 each over the three-month summer period. A fully equipped facility can be leased at a cost of $8,000 for the summer. Additional projected costs are $2,000 for insurance, and 25¢ per unit for materials and supplies. Their tofu burgers would be priced at $1.50 per unit.
A. What is the accounting cost function for this business?
B. What is the economic cost function for this business?
C. What is the economic breakeven number of units for this operation? (Assume a $1.50 price and ignore interest costs associated with the timing of the lease payments.)

Question 36

A. If $e_{c}>1$ , increasing returns to scale and decreasing average costs are inchcated.
B. Average cost exceeds marginal cost at the minimum efficient scale of plant.
C. When total fixed cost and price are held constant, a rechiction in average variable cost will typically cause a reduction in the breakeven activity level.
D. Anincrease in total fixed cost will alwaysincrease the degree of operatingleverage for firms maling a positive net profit.
E. When longrun average cost is decreasing it can pay to operate smaller plants at their peak efficiency rather than larger plants with some excess capacity.

Question 37

Opportunity Costs. Two graduate business students are considering opening a full-service car wash in Greenville, North Carolina, after graduation. This is an alternative to employment with a local manufacturing firm where they would each earn $70,000 per year. A fully equipped facility can be leased at a cost of $35,000 for the year. Additional projected costs are $15,000 for overhead, and $5 per automobile for materials and supplies. Full detail automobile cleaning would be priced at $25.
A. What is the accounting cost function for this business?
B. What is the economic cost function for this business?
C. What is the economic breakeven number of units for this operation? (Assume a $25 price and ignore interest costs associated with the timing of the lease payments.)

Question 38

Costs that do not vary across decision alternatives are:

A) implicit.
B) explicit.
C) sunk.
D) economic.

Question 39

Opportunity Costs. Three University of Florida engineering students are considering operating a mobile car clinic in Gainesville, Florida, during their summer break. This is an alternative to summer employment stacking plastic cups at a local injection molding manufacturer where they would earn $10,000 each over the three-month summer period. A van equipped for such service can be leased at a cost of $5,000 for the summer from an owner taking a long vacation in the Bahamas. Additional projected costs are $2,500 for insurance, and $5 per service call for materials and supplies. Their service calls would be priced at $30 per unit, plus any parts costs (parts will not be inventoried, but purchased from local parts outlets).
A. What is the accounting cost function for this business (ignoring parts)?
B. What is the economic cost function for this business?
C. What is the economic breakeven number of units for this operation? (Assume a $30 price and ignore interest costs associated with the timing of the lease payments.)

Question 40

Incremental Costs. Infinite Audio, Inc., manufactures car speakers which it sells to other resellers, who then customize and distribute the products to retailers which sell hi-fi auto equipment. The yearly volume of output is 300,000 pairs. The selling price and cost per unit are shown below:
Management is evaluating the alternative of performing the necessary customizing to allow Infinite Audio to sell its output directly to car stereo retailers for $200 per unit under an in-house marquee. Although no added investment is required in productive facilities, additional processing costs are estimated as:

Question 41

Degree of Operating Leverage. Heat Tamers, Inc., of Bend, Oregon produces special heat-resistant boots used primarily by firefighters, smoke-jumpers and steelworkers. It is contemplating an expansion into the heat resistant leather market charging a price of $150 per pair of boots. The production of each pair of boots would require $60 in materials, and 1.5 hours of labor at the rate of $20 per hour. Energy, supervisory and other variable overhead costs would amount to $25 per unit. The accounting department has derived an allocated fixed overhead charge of $30 per pair of boots (at a projected volume of 280,000 pairs) to account for the expected increase in fixed costs.
A. What is Heat Tamers' breakeven sales volume (in pairs) for heat-resistant boots?
B. Calculate the degree of operating leverage at a projected volume of 280,000 units and explain what the DOL means.

Question 42

Cost Estimation. Natural Gas, Inc., has just completed a cost study of its natural gas production operation. By regressing total variable costs (in $000) per week on gas output, the following equation was estimated:
Here Q is natural gas production in thousand cubic feet (units) and the numbers in parentheses are the standard errors of the coefficients. The R² for the equation is 85%, and the standard error of the estimate is 50 for the weekly observations over a two-year period.

Question 43

Multiplant Operation. Nature's Green, Inc., a manufacturer of alfalfa tablets sold in health-food stores, currently operates just outside of Meno, California. Nature's Green is considering two alternative proposals for expansion, because it has run out of acreage to grow its organically-farmed alfalfa. It has found the following sites where farmers are willing to supply organic alfalfa: Alternative 1: Construct a single plant in Big Cabin, Oklahoma with a monthly production capacity of 50,000 cases, a monthly fixed cost of $275,000, and a variable cost of $100 per case. Alternative 2: Construct three plants, one each in Eudora, Kansas, Springfield, Missouri, and Tonkawa, Oklahoma, with capacities of 25,000, 20,000 and 15,000, respectively, and monthly fixed costs of $200,000, $175,000, and $160,000 each. Variable costs would be only $95 per case because of lower distribution costs. To achieve these cost savings, sales from each smaller plant would be limited to demand within its home state. The total estimated monthly sales volume of 49,000 cases in these three southeastern states is distributed as follows: 20,000 cases in Kansas, 15,000 cases in Missouri, and 14,000 cases in Oklahoma.
A. Assuming a wholesale price of $120 per case, calculate the breakeven output quantities for each alternative.
B. Assuming sales at the projected levels, which alternative expansion scheme provides Nature's Green with the highest profit per month?
C. If sales increase to production capacities, which alternative would prove to be more profitable?

Question 44

Cost Estimation. Hampshire Textiles, Inc., has just completed a cost study of its moire taffeta production facility. By regressing total variable costs per week on cloth output, one of their financial analysts estimated the following equation:
Here Q is moire taffeta cloth production in square yards and the numbers in parentheses are the standard errors of the coefficients. The R² for the equation was 80%, and the standard error of the estimate was 150 for the weekly observations over a two-year period.

Question 45

Degree of Operating Leverage. Ion Generating, Inc., produces ion generators and control (detection) devices for industrial applications such as chemical labs. It is contemplating an expansion into the home security market by producing a smoke detector based off of the same technology that would sell at a price of $50. The production of each smoke detector would require $20 in materials, and 0.4 hours of labor at the rate of $25 per hour. Energy, supervisory and other variable overhead costs would amount to $10 per unit. The accounting department has derived an allocated fixed overhead charge of $7.50 per smoke detector (at a projected volume of 300,000 units) to account for the expected increase in fixed costs.
A. What is Ion Generating's breakeven sales volume (in units) for smoke detectors?
B. Calculate the degree of operating leverage at a projected volume of 300,000 units and explain what the DOL means.

Question 46

Learning Curve. Teddy Bear, Inc., a rapidly growing manufacturer of high fashion children's shoes, plans to open a new production facility in Bethesda, Maryland. Based on information provided by the accounting department, the company estimates fixed costs of $500,000 per year and average variable costs at:

where AVC is average variable cost (in dollars) and Q is output measured in cases of output per year.
A. Calculate total cost and average total cost for the coming year at a projected volume of 50,000 pairs of shoes.
B. An increase in worker productivity due to greater experience or learning during the course of the year resulted in a substantial cost saving for the company. Calculate the effect of learning on average total cost if actual total cost was $1,080,000 at an actual volume of 60,000 pairs of shoes.

Question 47

Economies of Scale. Tucson Timing, Inc., has just completed a study of weekly production costs during the past year for its premium quality, automotive strobe timing light, the Flash Gun II. By regressing total variable costs on output the firm estimated the following equation.

Here total variable cost (TVC) is expressed in thousands of dollars and Q is in thousands of strobe timing lights (units) produced per week. Numbers in parentheses are the standard errors of the coefficients.
A. Estimate total variable cost and average variable cost per week for the coming year at a projected volume of 10,000 units per week.
B. During this period, the company experienced an unexpected interruption in supplier deliveries, and unexpected increases in the cost of labor and materials. If actual average variable costs were $100 per unit at an average actual volume of 15,000 units per week, calculate the separate influences on average variable cost of lost economies of scale and the unexpected input cost increases.

Question 48

Multiplant Operation. Tasty Snacks, Inc., a regional snack foods company (corn chips, potato chips, etc.) in the northeast, is considering two alternative proposals for expansion into southeastern states. Alternative 1: Construct a single plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a monthly production capacity of 250,000 cases, a monthly fixed cost of $265,000, and a variable cost of $45 per case. Alternative 2: Construct three plants, one each in Birmingham, Alabama, Tallahassee, Florida, and Charlotte, North Carolina, with capacities of 100,000, 80,000 and 70,000, respectively, and monthly fixed costs of $180,000, $150,000, and $135,000 each. Variable costs would be only $44 per case because of lower distribution costs. To achieve these cost savings, sales from each smaller plant would be limited to demand within its home state. The total estimated monthly sales volume of 175,000 cases in these three southeastern states is distributed as follows: 70,000 cases in Florida, 60,000 cases in North Carolina, and 45,000 cases in Alabama.
A. Assuming a wholesale price of $50 per case, calculate the breakeven output quantities for each alternative.
B. At a wholesale price of $50 per case in all states, and assuming sales at the projected levels, which alternative expansion scheme provides Tasty Snacks with the highest profit per month?
C. If sales increase to production capacities, which alternative would prove to be more profitable?

Question 49

Economies of Scale. Windy Manes, Inc., has just completed a study of weekly production costs during the past year for its compact hand-held hair dryer. By regressing total variable costs on output the firm estimated the following equation.

Here total variable cost (TVC) is expressed in thousands of dollars and Q is in thousands of hand-held hair dryers (units) produced per week. Numbers in parentheses are the standard errors of the coefficients.
A. Estimate total variable cost and average variable cost per week for the coming year at a projected volume of 50,000 units per week.
B. During this period, the company experienced an unexpected interruption in supplier deliveries, and unexpected increases in the cost of labor and materials. If actual average variable costs were $4.30 per unit at an average actual volume of 75,000 units per week, calculate the separate influences on average variable cost of lost economies of scale and the unexpected input cost increases.

Question 50

Learning Curve. Fashionable Designs, Ltd., plans to market a new sports blazer. Based on information provided by the accounting department, the company estimates fixed costs of $40,000 per year and average variable costs at:
where AVC is average variable cost (in dollars) and Q is output measured in cases of output per year.