Determine the balance in Finished Goods Inventory on October 31 and November 30 under absorption costing and variable costing. Compare the differences in inventory balances and the differences in operating income. Explain the differences in inventory balances based on absorption costing versus variable costing.

Please refer to the explanation section

Explanation:

The question is incomplete, amounts of production costs like Direct Material, direct labour and Variable/Fixed manufacturing overheard were not given, we will explain the absorption cost and variable cost in detail so that the student would be able to calculate absorption cost and variable cost balances easier.

Absorption costing Method

Total Manufacturing costs are allocated to Finished goods Product. Absorption Costing method assigns or allocates the total cost of Manufacturing or total production costs to units of Finished Goods produced. each unit of finished goods thus represents total costs of production per unit or Total Manufacturing/Production cost is the Balance of Finished Goods.

Total Manufacturing/Production cost = direct labor cost + direct material cost + variable and fixed Manufacturing overheads cost.

Finished Goods Balance = Total Manufacturing/Production cost

A unit of Finished Goods = Total Manufacturing costs/units produced

Variable costing method

Variable costing method fixed manufacturing costs are treated as an expense,  Variable Manufacturing costs are the only allocated to inventory. The value or Balance of inventory consist of Variable Manufacturing cost like Direct labor, Direct Material and Variable Manufacturing costs. Finished Goods Balance equals total Variable Manufacturing cost

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