Discussion Question The Miller Company has assembled the following data pertaining to certain costs which cannot be easily identified as either fixed or variable. Miller has heard about two methods of developing cost functions called the high-low method & scattergram method and has decided to compare both methods. The table below shows monthly data collected on department costs and on the number of hours worked over a recent 12-month period. Department Costs # of Hours 37,000 3,700 23,000 1,600 37,000 4,100 47,000 4,900 33,000 3,300 39,000 4,400 32,000 3,500 33,000 4,000 17,000 1,200 18,000 1,300 22,000 1,800 20,000 1,600 a) Determine the variable cost per hour and the fixed cost using the high-low method. b) What is the equation of the total mixed cost function? c) Prepare the scatter diagram for Miller Company. d) Using the line of best-fit, determine Miller's fixed cost per month and the variable cost per hour. (use o & 3000 hours.) e) Which of the two methods appear more appropriate? Explain your answer.