Boston Railroad decided to use the high-low method and operating data from the past six months to estimate the fixed and variable components of transportation costs. The activity base used by Boston Railroad is a measure of railroad operating activity, termed "gross-ton miles," which is the total number of tons multiplied by the miles moved. Transportation Costs Gross-Ton Miles January $1,454,100 323,000 February 1,621,300 361,000 March 1,145,800 234,000 April 1,554,400 350,000 May 1,303,700 281,000 June 1,671,400 380,000 Determine the variable cost per gross-ton mile and the fixed cost. Variable cost (Round to two decimal places.) $fill in the blank 1 per gross-ton mile Total fixed cost $fill in the blank 2

Results are below.

Explanation:

Giving the following information:

Transportation Costs Gross-Ton Miles

January $1,454,100 323,000

February 1,621,300 361,000

March 1,145,800 234,000

April 1,554,400 350,000

May 1,303,700 281,000

June 1,671,400 380,000

To calculate the variable and fixed cost under the high-low method, we need to use the following formulas:

Variable cost per unit= (Highest activity cost - Lowest activity cost)/ (Highest activity units - Lowest activity units)

Variable cost per unit= (1,671,400 - 1,145,800) / (380,000 - 234,000)

Variable cost per unit= $3.6

Fixed costs= Highest activity cost - (Variable cost per unit * HAU)

Fixed costs= 1,671,400 - (3.6*380,000)

Fixed costs= $303,400

Fixed costs= LAC - (Variable cost per unit* LAU)

Fixed costs= 1,145,800 - (3.6*234,000)

Fixed costs= $303,400

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