AccuBlade Castings Inc. casts blades for turbine engines. Within the Casting Department, alloy is first melted in a crucible, then poured into molds to produce the castings. On May 1, there were 230 pounds of alloy in process, which were 60% complete as to conversion. The Work in Process balance for these 230 pounds was $32, 844, determined as follows: During May, the Casting Department was charged $350,000 for 2, 500 pounds of alloy and $19, 840 for direct labor. Factory overhead is applied to the department at a rate of 150% of direct labor. The department transferred out 2, 530 pounds of finished castings to the Machining Department. The May 31 inventory in process was 44% complete as to conversion. a. Prepare the following May journal entries for the Casting Department: 1. The materials charged to production 2. The conversion costs charged to production 3. The completed production transferred to the Machining Department b. Determine the Work in Process-Casting Department May 31 balance. c. Compute and evaluate the change in the costs per equivalent unit for direct materials and conversion from the previous month (April)