Due to erratic sales of its sole product$$a high$-$capacity battery for laptop computers$$PEM$,$ Incorporated, has been experiencing financial difficulty for some time. The company$$s contribution format income statement for the most recent month is given below:

Sales $(12,600$ units $\backslash$times $$30$ per unit$)$ $ $378,000$

Variable expenses $226,800$

Contribution margin $151,200$

Fixed expenses $169,200$

Net operating loss $ $(18,000)$

Required:

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

$2.$ The president believes that a $$6,800$ increase in the monthly advertising budget, combined with an intensified effort by the sales staff, will increase unit sales and the total sales by $$84,000$ per month. If the president is right, what will be the increase $($decrease$)$ in the company$$s 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 $$36,000$ 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 $$0\mathrm{.}60$ per unit. Assuming no other changes, how many units would have to be sold each month to attain a target profit of $$4,600?$

$5.$ Refer to the original data. By automating, the company could reduce variable expenses by $$3$ per unit. However, fixed expenses would increase by $$54,000$ 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 $20,600$ 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 $20,600$ units$)?$