Variable and fixed cost, probability of order, opportunity costHealthy Hearth specializes in lunches for health-conscious people. The company produces a small section of lunch offerings each day. The menu selections may vary from say today, but Healthy Hearth charges the same price per menu selection because it adjusts the portion size according to the cost of producing the selection. Healthy Hearth currently sells 5,000 meals per month. Variable costs are $3 per meal, and fixed costs total $5,000 per month. A government agency recently proposed that Healthy Hearth provide 1,000 meals next month for senior citizens at $3.50 a meal. Volunteers will deliver the meals to the seniors at no charge.

(a)Suppose Healthy Hearth has sufficient idle capacity to accommodate the government order for the next month. What will be the impact on Healthy Hearth's operating income if it accepts this order?

(b)Suppose that Healthy Hearth would have to give up regular sales of 500 meals, at a price of $4.50 each, to accommodate the government order for next month. What will be the impact on Healthy Heart's operating income if it accepts the government order?