Morton Company's contribution format income statement for last month is given below: Sales (15,880 units X $30 per unit) Variable expenses Contribution margin Fixed expenses Net operating income $ 450,000 315,000 135,000 90,000 $ 45,000 The industry in which Morton Company operates is quite sensitive to cyclical movements in the economy. Thus, profits vary considerably from year to year according to general economic conditions. The company has a large amount of unused capacity and is studying ways of improving profits. Required: 1. New equipment has come onto the market that would allow Morton Company to automate a portion of its operations, Variable expenses would be reduced by $9 per unit. However, fixed expenses would increase to a total of $225,000 each month. Prepare two contribution format income statements, one showing present operations and one showing how operations would appear if the new equipment is purchased 2. Refer to the income statements in (1). For the present operations and the proposed new operations, compute (a) the degree of operating leverage, (b) the break even point in dollar sales, and (c) the margin of safety in dollars and the margin of safety percentage. 3. Refer again to the data in (1). As a manager what factor would be paramount in your mind in deciding whether to purchase the new equipment? (Assume that enough funds are available to make the purchase.)