The manager of a community pharmacy is reordering his stock of generic atenolol when he notes in the catalog that a new manufacturer is also now producing and packaging atenolol at what appear to be competitive prices.  At present he orders, on average, three 250-count bottles per month at Php 120 per bottle from Company A.  However, Company B is offering one bottle of 1,000-count atenolol for Php 175.

Detail the type of analysis the pharmacist might conduct to determine which option would be least costly.  Assuming the pharmacy dispenses 10,000 atenolol pills over the course of one year, from which company should the pharmacist order if financial considerations are the only consideration?

 Additional considerations:

Q1:  What chronic ailment is atenolol used for?

Q2:  What is the aim of this exercise?