In: Accounting
The managerial accountant at Sunny Manufacturing needs to determine how many costs are fixed costs and how many costs are variable costs in the organization. The managerial accountant reported the following information:
Use the high-low method to determine the cost equation and use machine hours as the base for a cost driver in the analysis.
Month | Machine-Hours | Total Cost |
January | 1,800 | $21,500 |
February | 2,900 | $23,200 |
March | 1,000 | $19,750 |
April | 2,400 | $21,000 |
May | 3,400 | $23,900 |
Machine hours (Activity level) | total cost | |
High activity level -May | 3,400 | $23,900 |
Low activity level | 1,000 | $19,750 |
Change in cost & activity level | 2,400 | $4,150 |
Variable cost = Change in cost ÷ Change in activity
= ($23,900 - $19,750) ÷ (3,400 machine-hours - 2,400 machine-hours)
= $4,150 ÷2,400
= $1.73 per machine hour
Hence, fixed cost at activity level of 3,400 machine hours -may month
Fixed cost = Total cost - variable cost
= $23,900 - 3,400 x $1.73
= 23,900 -5,882 = $18,018
Cost equation:
Total cost (Y) = Fixed cost + Variable cost per unit x machine hours
Y = $18,018 + $1.73 * X
Where, X = number of machine hours
Total cost (Y) = Fixed cost + Variable cost per unit x machine hours
Y = $18,018 + $1.73 * X