Northwood Company manufactures basketballs. The company has a ball that sells for $25. At present, the ball is manufactured in a small plant that relles heavily on direct labor workers. Thus, varlable expenses are high, totaling $15 per ball, of which 60% is direct labor cost. Last year, the company sold 30,000 of these balls, with the following results: Required: 1. Compute (a) last year's CM ratio and the break-even point in balls, and (b) the degree of operating leverage at last year's sales level. 2. Due to an Increase In labor rates, the company estimates that next year's varlable expenses will increase by $3 per ball. If this change takes place and the selling price per ball remalns constant at $25, what will be next year's CM ratio and the break-even point In balls? 3. Refer to the data In requirement 2 . If the expected change In varlable expenses takes place, how many balls will have to be sold next year to earn the same net operating Income, $90,000, as last year? 4. Refer again to the data In requirement 2 . The president feels that the company must ralse the selling price of Its basketballs. If Northwood Company wants to malntain the same CM ratio as last year (as computed in requirement 1a), what selling price per ball must it charge next year to cover the Increased labor costs? 5. Refer to the original data. The company is discussing the construction of a new, automated manufacturing plant. The new plant would slash varlable expenses per ball by 40%, but It would cause fixed expenses per year to double. If the new plant is bullt, what would be the company's new CM ratlo and new break-even point In balls? 6. Refer to the data In requirement 5. a. If the new plant is bullt, how many balls will have to be sold next year to earn the same net operating Income, $90,000, as last year? b. Assume the new plant is bult and that next year the company manufactures and sells 30,000 balls (the same number as sold last year). Prepare a contribution format Income statement and compute the degree of operating leverage. Answer is complete but not entirely correct. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Compute (a) last year's CM ratio and the break-even point in balls, and (b) the degree of operating leverage at last year's sales level. (Round "Degree of operating leverage" to 2 decimal places.)