Frieden Company's contribution format income statement for the most recent month is given below: 7 Sales (42,000 units) Variable expenses Contribution margin Fixed expenses Net operating Incone $ 340,000 SB,000 252,000 201,600 $50,400 The Industry in which Frieden 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 on the market that would allow Frleden Company to automate a portion of its operations. Variable expenses would be reduced by $6 per unit. However, fixed expenses would increase to a total of $453,600 each month. Prepare two contribution format income statements, one showing present operations and one showing how operations would appear if the new equipment were purchased. Present Per Unit Amount Percentage Amount Proposed Per Unit Percentage 18 2. Refer to the income statements in Requirement (1) above. For both present operations and the proposed now operations Computer a. The degree of operating leverage Present Proposed Degree of operating leverago b. The break-even point in dollars Present Proposed Dollars to breakeven c. The margin of safety in both dollar and percentage terms Present Proposed Margins of tot in dos Margin of natoly in percentage 3. Refer again to the data in Requirement (1) above. As a manager what factor would be paramount in your mind in deciding whether to purchase the new equipment? (Assume that ample funds are available to make the purchase.) Cyclical movements in the economy Reserves and surplus of the company Performance of peers in the Indstry Stock level maintained 4. Refer to the original data. Rather than purchase new equipment, the marketing manager argues that the company's marketing strategy should be changed. Instead of paying sales commissions, which are included in variable expenses, the marketing manager suggests that salespeople be paid fixed salaries and that the company invest heavily in advertising. The marketing manager claims that this new approach would increase unit sales by 50% Without any change in selling price the company's new monthly fixed expenses would be 5252000, and its net operating income would increase by 25% Compute the break even point in dollar sales for the company under the new marketing strategy. Do you agree with the marketing manager's proposal