Scatter Diagrams and High-Low Cost Estimation From April 1 through October 31, Will County Highway Department hires temporary employees to mow and clean the right-of-way along county roads. The County Road Commissioner has asked you to help her in determining the variable labor cost of mowing and cleaning a mile of road. The following information is available regarding current-year operations: Month Miles Mowed Labor costs April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 $8,000 May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 7,500 June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 9,000 July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 5,500 August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375 8,500 September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 5,000 October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 4,800 Required a. U se the information from the high- and low-volume months to develop a cost-estimating equation for monthly labor costs. b. Plot the data on a scatter diagram. Using the information from representative high- and lowvolume months, use the high-low method to develop a cost-estimating equation for monthly labor costs. c. What factors might have caused the difference in the equations developed for requirements (a) and (b)? d. Adjust the equation developed in requirement (b) to incorporate the effect of an anticipated 7 percent increase in wages.