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Chapter 21: Q-21-3RQ (page 1166)

How are absorption costing and variable costing the same? How are they different?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer

Both methods consider variable cost as product cost.

Step by step solution

01

Similarity between absorption and variable costing

The similarity between absorption and variable costing is that both methods treat direct material, direct labor and variable manufacturing overhead as product cost while calculating operating income.

02

Difference between variable and absorption costing

The main difference is absorption costing considers fixed manufacturing overhead as product cost, whereas variable cost considers it as period cost.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Question: Communication Activity 21-1

In 100 words or fewer, explain the main differences and similarities between variable costing and absorption costing.

: Before you begin this assignment, review the Tying It All Together feature in the chapter. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of nitrogen fertilizer and other nitrogen products in the world. The corporation often produces and stores large amounts of inventory during periods of low demand to ensure that there is enough product to meet the demand of peak seasons. Assume that one line of fertilizer (with no beginning Finished Goods Inventory) had the following data during a time period of low demand:

Sales price $ 20.00 per case Variable manufacturing costs 4.00 per case Fixed manufacturing costs 100,000 per quarter Variable selling and administrative costs 2.00 per case Fixed selling and administrative costs 45,000 per quarter Given that the time period has low demand, assume the company produced 1,000,000 cases but only sold 250,000 cases.

Requirement

1. Prepare the income statement for the quarter using variable costing.

2. Prepare the income statement for the quarter using absorption costing.

3. Why, if at all, is there a difference between operating income under the two methods?

Question: Preparing absorption costing income statements, production less than sales

Refer to Exercise E21-19.

Requirements

  1. Prepare the May income statement using absorption costing.
  2. Is operating income using absorption costing higher or lower than variable costing income? Explain why.
  3. Determine the balance in Finished Goods Inventory as of May 31.

Question: Computing absorption costing operating income

Refer to the information for Concord, Inc.

Requirements

  1. Using absorption costing, calculate the unit product cost.
  2. Prepare an income statement using the traditional format.

Use the following information for Exercises E21-14 and E21-15.

Concord, Inc. has collected the following data for November (there are no beginning inventories):

Units produced and sold 500 units Sales price $ 450 per unit Direct materials 64 per unit Direct labor 68 per unit Variable manufacturing overhead 26 per unit Fixed manufacturing overhead 7,500 per month Variable selling and administrative costs 15 per unit Fixed selling and administrative costs 4,400 per month

Using variable costing, service company

Professional Pool Cleaning Service provides pool cleaning services to residential customers. The company has three employees, each assigned to specific customers. The company considers each employee’s territory as a business segment. The company incurs variable costs that include the employees’ wages, pool chemicals, and gas for the service vans. Fixed costs include depreciation on the service vans. Following is the income statement for the month of July:

Requirements

  1. Calculate the contribution margin ratio for each business segment.
  2. The business segments had the following numbers of customers: Birman, 60; Meech, 70; and Frond, 40. Compute the service revenue per customer, variable cost per customer, and contribution margin per customer for each business segment.
  3. Which business segment was most profitable? List some possible reasons why this segment was most profitable. How might the various reasons affect the company in the long term?
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