Precision tool is analyzing two machines to determine which one it should purchase. the company requires a 15 percent rate of return and uses straight-line depreciation to a zero book value over the life of its equipment. machine a has a cost $892,000, annual operating costs of $26,300, and a 4 year life. machine b costs $1,127,000, has annual operating costs of $19,500, and has a 5 year life. whichever machine is purchased will be replaced at the end of its useful life. precision tool should purchase machine because it lowers the firm's annual cost by approximately as compared to the other machinea. a: $16,965b. a: $17,404c. b: $16,965d. b: $17,404e. b: $17,521

Oakmont company has an opportunity to manufacture and sell a new product for a four-year period. the company’s discount rate is 18%. after careful study, oakmont estimated the following costs and revenues for the new product: cost of equipment needed $ 230,000 working capital needed $ 84,000 overhaul of the equipment in year two $ 9,000 salvage value of the equipment in four years $ 12,000 annual revenues and costs: sales revenues $ 400,000 variable expenses $ 195,000 fixed out-of-pocket operating costs $ 85,000 when the project concludes in four years the working capital will be released for investment elsewhere within the company. click here to view exhibit 12b-1 and exhibit 12b-2, to determine the appropriate discount factor(s) using tables.

Zachary company produces commercial gardening equipment. since production is highly automated, the company allocates its overhead costs to product lines using activity-based costing. the costs and cost drivers associated with the four overhead activity cost pools follow: activities unit level batch level product level facility level cost $ 64,800 $ 27,730 $ 15,000 $ 154,000 cost driver 2,400 labor hrs. 47 setups percentage of use 11,000 units production of 780 sets of cutting shears, one of the company’s 20 products, took 240 labor hours and 7 setups and consumed 15 percent of the product-sustaining activities. required: (a) had the company used labor hours as a company wide allocation base, how much overhead would it have allocated to the cutting shears? (b) how much overhead is allocated to the cutting shears using activity-based costing? (c) compute the overhead cost per unit for cutting shears first using activity-based costing and then using direct labor hours for allocation if 780 units are produced. if direct product costs are $150 and the product is priced at 30 percent above cost for what price would the product sell under each allocation system? (d) assuming that activity-based costing provides a more accurate estimate of cost, indicate whether the cutting shears would be over- or underpriced if direct labor hours are used as an allocation base. explain how over-or undercosting can affect vaulker's profitability. (e) comment on the validity of using the allocated facility-level cost in the pricing decision. should other costs be considered in a cost- plus pricing decision? if so, which ones? what costs would you include if you were trying to decide whether to accept a special order?

Aproperty title search firm is contemplating using online software to increase its search productivity. currently an average of 40 minutes is needed to do a title search. the researcher cost is $2 per minute. clients are charged a fee of $400. company a's software would reduce the average search time by 10 minutes, at a cost of $3.50 per search. company b's software would reduce the average search time by 12 minutes at a cost of $3.60 per search. which option would have the higher productivity in terms of revenue per dollar of input?