1. Due to erratic sales of its sole producta high-capacity battery for laptop computersPEM, Inc., has been experiencing financial difficulty for some time. The companys contribution format income statement for the most recent month is given below:

Sales (13,000 units $20 per unit) $ 260,000

Variable expenses 156,000

Contribution margin 104,000

Fixed expenses 116,000

Net operating loss $ (12,000 )

Required:

1. Compute the companys CM ratio and its break-even point in unit sales and dollar sales.

2. The president believes that a $6,800 increase in the monthly advertising budget, combined with an intensified effort by the sales staff, will result in an $89,000 increase in monthly sales. If the president is right, what will be the increase (decrease) in the companys monthly net operating income?

3. Refer to the original data. The sales manager is convinced that a 10% reduction in the selling price, combined with an increase of $39,000 in the monthly advertising budget, will double unit sales. If the sales manager is right, what will be the revised net operating income (loss)?

4. Refer to the original data. The Marketing Department thinks that a fancy new package for the laptop computer battery would grow sales. The new package would increase packaging costs by $0.40 per unit. Assuming no other changes, how many units would have to be sold each month to attain a target profit of $4,900?

5. Refer to the original data. By automating, the company could reduce variable expenses by $3 per unit. However, fixed expenses would increase by $58,000 each month.

a. Compute the new CM ratio and the new break-even point in unit sales and dollar sales.

b. Assume that the company expects to sell 20,700 units next month. Prepare two contribution format income statements, one assuming that operations are not automated and one assuming that they are. (Show data on a per unit and percentage basis, as well as in total, for each alternative.)

c. Would you recommend that the company automate its operations (Assuming that the company expects to sell 20,700)?

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Morton Companys contribution format income statement for last month is given below:

Sales (48,000 units $23 per unit) $ 1,104,000

Variable expenses 772,800

Contribution margin 331,200

Fixed expenses 264,960

Net operating income $ 66,240

The industry in which Morton Company operates is quite sensitive to cyclical movements in the economy. Thus, profits vary considerably from year to year according to general economic conditions. The company has a large amount of unused capacity and is studying ways of improving profits.

Required:

1. New equipment has come onto the market that would allow Morton Company to automate a portion of its operations. Variable expenses would be reduced by $6.90 per unit. However, fixed expenses would increase to a total of $596,160 each month. Prepare two contribution format income statements, one showing present operations and one showing how operations would appear if the new equipment is purchased.

2. Refer to the income statements in (1). For the present operations and the proposed new operations, compute (a) the degree of operating leverage, (b) the break-even point in dollar sales, and (c) the margin of safety in dollars and the margin of safety percentage.

3. Refer again to the data in (1). As a manager, what factor would be paramount in your mind in deciding whether to purchase the new equipment? (Assume that enough funds are available to make the purchase.)

4. Refer to the original data. Rather than purchase new equipment, the marketing manager argues that the companys marketing strategy should be changed. Rather than pay sales commissions, which are currently included in variable expenses, the company would pay salespersons fixed salaries and would invest heavily in advertising. The marketing manager claims this new approach would increase unit sales by 30% without any change in selling price; the companys new monthly fixed expenses would be $422,832; and its net operating income would increase by 20%. Compute the company's break-even point in dollar sales under the new marketing strategy.

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