ICP 1- Kermit Corp. Kermit Corp. manufactures a chemical called Muppet Powder. At the beginning of 20X3, the selling price was raised from $5/gram to $5.60/gram. Production costs have increased as noted below. Inventory costs per unit for 20X1 were the same as for 20X2. All changes were made at the beginning of the year. Kermit uses FIFO for costing its inventory and uses absorption costing. Further financial information was as follows: 20X2 20X3 Sales volume 900,000 grams 1,000,000 grams 300,000 grams 600,000 grams 600,000 grams450,000 grams Beginning inventory Ending inventory $5/gram $0.75/gram $1.25/gram $0.50/gram $1.50/gram $1,800,000 $750,000 $5.60/gram $0.825/gram $1.375/gram $0.55/gram $1.65/gram $1,402,500 $750,000 Selling price Direct materials cost Direct labour cost Variable manufacturing overhead cost Fixed manufacturing overhead cost Total fixed manufacturing overhead cost General, selling and administrative (fixed) Absorption costing income statement ($000) Sales $4,500 $5,600 4,160 1,440 750 Cost of goods sold Gross margin General, selling and administrative 3.600 900 750 expenses $ 690 $150 Operating income Required: a) Prepare the variable costing income statement for Kermit for each of 20X2 and 20X3 b) Reconcile the difference between the operating income under absorption costing and the operating income under variable costing c) Explain to management why absorption costing shows a higher net income than variable costing in 20X2 and why variable costing shows a higher net income than absorption costing in 20X3