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- This topic has 25 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by John Moffat.
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- May 22, 2014 at 8:16 pm #170216
Hi john sir, give me guideline on the following question. plz also provide explanation to handle such a question
Output(units) 5000 10,000
Total cost 14000 27000The variable element of total overhead cost is known to increase by $1 per unit at output levels above 7000 units.
What is the variable element of total overhead cost at an activity level of 5000 units?
a. 2.00
b. 2.60
c. 3.20
d.3.60May 23, 2014 at 8:32 am #170255I don’t know where you found this example, but either you have typed it wrong, or the question/answer is printed wrong.
The amount at output of 10,000 includes an extra $1 per unit.
If there was not the extra $1, then the total cost would be $10,000 lower at $17,000If you now do the normal high low, the variable cost per unit (ignoring the extra $1) is (17000 – 14000) / (10000 – 5000) = $0.60.
(And although it is not asked for, the fixed cost is $11,000)
That is not one of the four choices, but it is the correct answer based on the figures that you have typed. (In fact the way the question is worded, the variable element of total overhead cost for 5,000 units is 5,000 x $0.60 = $3,000 !!!!)
May 23, 2014 at 8:32 pm #170369Thanx john sir i got it. The question is typed correctly. I was also doing in the same way but i was confused when i did’t find the answer. its mean if question says find the variable cost per unit for an activity level above 7000, that will be 1.6? Thanx john sir.
May 23, 2014 at 9:07 pm #170378Yes – above 7,000 it will be $1.60 per unit.
May 23, 2014 at 9:46 pm #170386Thanx alot john sir.
May 23, 2014 at 9:54 pm #170389You are welcome 🙂
May 24, 2014 at 7:56 am #170438Hi Sir,
could you please help me with this question:Activity level(units): 8000 12000 15000
total cost: 204000 250000 274000Variable cost is constant and there is a step up of 10% in the total fixed costs when the activity level exceeds 11000 units.
What is the tota cost at an activity level of 10000 units.
A. 220000
B. 224000
C. 227000
D. 234000May 24, 2014 at 8:28 am #170445At activity levels of 12,000 and 15,000 the fixed costs will be the same (because they both exceed 11,000 units).
So use high-low on these two to get the variable cost per unit:
(274000-250000)/(15000-12000) = $8 per unit.10,000 is below the level where fixed costs change, and so is 8,000. So since the variable cost will remain at $8 per unit, the only reason 10,000 will cost more in total than 8,000 is because of the extra variable cost of the extra 2,000 units.
So the total cost for 10,000 is equal to the total cost at 8,000 plus the extra variable cost of (2000 x $8).
So the total is 204,000 + 15,000 = 220,000May 24, 2014 at 10:26 am #170481thank you so much Sir. I’ve finally understood it now 🙂
May 24, 2014 at 10:41 am #170484You are welcome 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 10:23 am #174952Hi… I am totally confused on high low please help me out… All I know is that u take highest cost – lowest cost then divide by highest units – lowest units… I can calculate that… But when there is a step up… I always get them wrong…. How do I get variable cost, fixed cost n total cost ? Please help
June 7, 2014 at 10:41 am #174956My answers to the two questions above should sort you out.
One is where there is a step up in fixed costs, and the other is where there is a step up in variable cost.
June 8, 2014 at 9:41 am #175151Thanks
June 8, 2014 at 10:05 am #175152You are welcome 🙂
June 9, 2014 at 6:34 pm #175507Dear Sir,
Above 7000 units, v.c shouldn’t be: $1*outputs+$0.6 ??June 9, 2014 at 6:41 pm #175511No, not at all.
The variable cost per unit will be $1.60 and so the total variable cost will be $1.60 x output.
June 9, 2014 at 6:42 pm #175512Dear John sir,
Another question about high-low:
this year, output 5000u, cost 3100, price index 164
3y ago, output 2000u,cost 8800, price index 132calculate the variable cost per u expressed in current year price
I can not find the relation within variable cost and price index .
June 9, 2014 at 6:44 pm #175515ah ok I know where i am wrong . Thank you sir !
June 9, 2014 at 6:45 pm #175516In current year prices, the information 3 years ago will be:
output 2000 units; cost 8800 x 164/132 = $10933
Now you can just use the normal high/low technique.
June 9, 2014 at 6:46 pm #175518You are welcome 🙂
June 10, 2014 at 12:54 pm #175661sir 🙂
can you please continue the answer for the last one ^^
i don’t know how to continue with it 🙁
June 10, 2014 at 2:28 pm #175680Actually, although I explained how to deal with the index numbers, Grace must have typed the question wrongly because the cost of 5,000 units is less than the cost for 2,000 units – this is not possible 🙂
June 10, 2014 at 2:49 pm #175713sorry, yes I typed it wrongly , this year the cost is 31000, not 3100……:)
June 10, 2014 at 3:09 pm #175720So…….at 2,000 units the cost is 10,933 (as I explained before), and at 5,000 units the cost is 31,000
So the variable cost per unit is (31000 – 10933) / (5000 – 2000)
June 10, 2014 at 5:23 pm #175755ok 🙂
thank you sir 😀
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