17-31 Weighted-average method. Larsen Company manufactures car seats in its San Antonio plant. Each car seat passes through the assembly department and the testing department. This problem focuses on the assembly department. The process-costing system at Larsen Company has a single direct-cost category (direct materials) and a single indirect-cost category (conversion costs). Direct materials are added at the beginning of the process. Conversion costs are added evenly during the process. When the assembly department finishes work on each car seat, it is immediately transferred to testing. Larsen Company uses the weighted-average method of process costing. Data for the assembly department for October 2014 are as follows: aDegree of completion: direct materials,?%; conversion costs, 60%. bDegree of completion: direct materials,?%; conversion costs, 70%.

17-33 FIFO method (continuation of 17-31). 1. Do Problem 17-31 using the FIFO method of process costing. Explain any difference between the cost per equivalent unit in the assembly department under the weighted-average method and the FIFO method. 2. Should Larsens managers choose the weighted-average method or the FIFO method? Explain briefly.