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- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years ago by John Moffat.
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- December 5, 2016 at 10:17 pm #354338
Hi John
I need some help with calculating the learning rate in this example. This is from ACCA website.
The first phase of production has now been completed for the new car seat. The first unit actually took 12.5 hours to make and the total time for the first eight units was 34.3 hours, at which point the learning effect came to an end. Chair Co are planning on adjusting the price to reflect the actual time it took to complete the eighth unit.
What was the actual rate of learning which occurred (to two decimal places)?
Their method is
Actual learning rate
Cumulative number of Cumulative total Cumulative average
seats produced hours hours per unit
1 12·5 12·5
2 ? 12·5 x r
4 ? 12·5 x r2
8 34·3 12·5 x r3
Using algebra: 34·3 = 8 x (12·5 x r3)
4·2875 = (12·5 x r3)
0·343 = r3
r = 0·70
Therefore the learning rate was 70%Would you do it differently? Normally your ways are better
Thanks
OksanaDecember 6, 2016 at 7:33 am #354396I would do it the same way as you 🙂
December 6, 2016 at 11:31 am #354457ok thanks. Wish me good luck for tomorrow 🙂
December 6, 2016 at 3:44 pm #354528I do wish you the best of luck – I hope it all goes well for you (and that then I see you again on F9 before too long 🙂 )
December 6, 2016 at 4:18 pm #354548Hi John,
I have a question its q142 in the bpp revision kit.
The question is:
The following statements have been made about learning curves.
(1) learning curves are easier to apply in companies with high labour turnover than those with lower rate of staff turnover
(2) learning rates are not affected by time gaps between the production of additional units of a product.
Which of the following statements are true?A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Neither 1 nor 2
D. Both 1 and 2Answer from BPP – D
But i do not understand the logic behinf the answer. Can you help me? Thank youDecember 6, 2016 at 4:20 pm #354550Thank you John
December 7, 2016 at 6:31 am #354844BPP’s answer is a typing mistake – they have given an answer to a different question (if you look at the workings)!!
The correct answer is C.
If there is high labour turnover then new employees keep appearing and they have to start learning all over again.
Time gaps in production mean that workers forget and have to start learning again.January 20, 2017 at 6:13 am #368489Dear John
Please can you talk me through this example? I do not know how to calculate this formula.Appreciate your help
Regards
WalterJanuary 20, 2017 at 8:12 am #368498You must watch my free lectures on learning curves – I cannot type out all my lectures here 🙂
(The lectures are a complete free course for Paper F5 and cover everything needed to be able to pass the exam well.)
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