Because upper management must deal with problems that are ambiguous but that could have far-reaching consequences, skills are particularly important for top managers.

Sauer food company has decided to buy a new computer system with an expected life of three years. the cost is $440,000. the company can borrow $440,000 for three years at 14 percent annual interest or for one year at 12 percent annual interest. assume interest is paid in full at the end of each year. a. how much would sauer food company save in interest over the three-year life of the computer system if the one-year loan is utilized and the loan is rolled over (reborrowed) each year at the same 12 percent rate? compare this to the 14 percent three-year loan.

What impact might an economic downturn have on a borrower’s fixed-rate mortgage? a. it might cause a borrower’s payments to go up. b. it might cause a borrower’s payments to go down. c. it has no impact because a fixed-rate mortgage cannot change. d. it has no impact because the economy does not affect interest rates.

Interpreting the income tax expense footnote the income tax footnote to the financial statements of fedex corporation follows. the components of the provision for income taxes for the years ended may 31 were as follows: ($ millions) 2010 2009 2008 current provision domestic federal $ 36 $ (35) $ 514 state and local 54 18 74 foreign 207 214 242 297 197 830 deferred provisions (benefit) domestic federal 408 327 31 state and local 15 48 (2) foreign (10) 7 32 413 382 61 provision for income taxes $ 710 $ 579 $ 891 (a)what is the amount of income tax expense reported in fedex's 2010, 2009, and 2008 income statements?