Carmen Co. can further process Product J to produce Product D. Product J is currently selling for $23.70 per pound and costs $15.65 per pound to produce. Product D would sell for $43.65 per pound and would require an additional cost of $9.75 per pound to produce. What is the differential cost of producing Product D?

$9.75

Explanation:

the contribution margin of product J = $23.70 - $15.65 = $8.05

the contribution margin of product D = $43.65 - ($9.75 + $15.65) = $18.25

the differential cost of producing product D is equal to the additional cost incurred by further processing product J = $9.75

differential costs or expenses are the difference in costs resulting from choosing one activity over another, or like in this case, further processing one product into another.