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Step up cost or change in variable

Forums › Ask ACCA Tutor Forums › Ask the Tutor ACCA PM Exams › Step up cost or change in variable

  • This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 6 years ago by John Moffat.
Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • August 18, 2018 at 11:02 pm #468432
    abhishekbakshi
    Participant
    • Topics: 7
    • Replies: 2
    • ☆

    A business has experienced the following labour costs :

    Code:
    Output Cost
    (units) ($)
    7000 86000
    12000 141000
    9000 97500

    Fixed costs increase by $15000 for output in excess of 10000 units.
    Using the high low method what is the estimated cost of producing 14000 units?
    A. 142000
    B. 157000
    C. 163000
    D. 178000

    Hello sir I believe the answer is B 157000 which we got by taking the highest unit and lowest unit 12000 and 7000units
    but as per my understanding if there is a change in variable or fixed cost you take the high low units where the units are not affected by the change. As in this case should be 9000 and 7000 and then adjust for the change.
    Could you please explain why we did not do so in this

    ………………………….

    like in this we took the units which were not affected by the change which is 6000 and 7500

    Q.An organisation has the following total costs at three activity levels:

    Output Cost
    (units) ($)
    4000 40800
    6000 50000
    7500 54800

    Variable cost per unit is constant within this activity range and there is a step up of 10% in the total fixed costs when the activity level exceeds 5,500 units.

    What is the total cost at an activity level of 5,000 units?

    Calculate the variable cost per unit by comparing two output levels where fixed costs will be the same:

    Variable cost per unit = [(54,800 – 50,000) / (7,500 – 6,000)] = $3.20

    Total fixed cost above 5,500 units = [54,800 – (7,500 x 3.20)] = $30,800

    Total fixed cost below 5,500 units = 30,800/110 x 100 = $28,000

    Total cost for 5,000 units = [(5,000 x 3.20) + 28,000] = $44,000

    August 19, 2018 at 10:46 am #468473
    John Moffat
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 57
    • Replies: 54655
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    Both of these questions are more likely in Paper F2, and are not really very likely in Paper PM.

    It makes no difference which two levels of output you choose (although I don’t know who taught you to use the two that are not affected by the change – there won’t always be two not affected by the change!).
    Take 9,000 and 7,000, and you will still end up with the same answer!
    (And how you get the answer is of no relevance, because if this were to be asked in Paper PM (which is unlikely) then it could only be a Section A question and nobody looks at your workings for Section A or B questions)

    August 19, 2018 at 1:00 pm #468487
    abhishekbakshi
    Participant
    • Topics: 7
    • Replies: 2
    • ☆

    I tried taking 9000 and 7000

    9000-7000/97500-86000 = 5.75

    FC = 86000 – (5.75*7000)
    = 45750

    therefore for 14000 units
    14000*5.75 + 45750 + (the increase of 15000) = 141250

    Could you please tell me what I am doing wrong. I just want to know because if just in case it comes in section A or B I do not want to lose the 2 marks
    Thanks a lot sir. 🙂

    August 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm #468525
    John Moffat
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 57
    • Replies: 54655
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    Sorry, I was mistaken in what I wrote before.

    You should always take the highest and lowest levels of production.

    (However do check you have copied all of the figures in the question correctly, it is unusual for there to be questions with three levels and them not all to end up with the same result.)

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Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • The topic ‘Step up cost or change in variable’ is closed to new replies.

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