A new employee has been given responsibility for preparing the consolidated financial statements of Sample Company. After attempting to work alone for some time, the employee seeks assistance in gaining a better overall understanding of the way in which the consolidation process works.

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You have been asked to provide assistance in explaining the consolidation process.

a. Why must the eliminating entries be entered in the consolidation workpaper each time consolidated statements are prepared?

b. How is the beginning-of-period noncontrolling interest balance determined?

c. How is the end-of-period noncontrolling interest balance determined?

d. Which of the account balances of the subsidiary always must be eliminated?

\(e\). Which of the account balances of the parent company always must be eliminated?