Question: Describe the various methods of solving linear systems. With which method of solving linear systems are you most comfortable, and why?

Hint: First, define a linear system, and give an example. Then, discuss the methods, and show the steps to solve your example. Finally, talk about advantages and drawbacks of each method.

"Real-Life" Relationship: Any relationship where we have a fixed cost and variable cost can be represented by a linear equation.

For instance, the cost of a rental car from Hertz might be $100 plus $0.70 per mile, while Enterprise might charge $80 plus $0.80 per mile. We can solve the following system to find out when the cost is the same (c = cost, m = miles driven)

c = 0.7m + 100 (Hertz)

c = 0.8m + 80 (Enterprise)

It turns out that they are equal when the mileage is m = 200.

Challenge 1: Given two lines in standard form, how can you quickly decide if they have the same slope, simply by using ratios of y and x coefficients?

Challenge 2: What is a quick way (without finding the slope or solving for y) to decide whether the following system has a solution?

2x + 3y = 4

2x + 3y = 5

East Coast Railroad Company transports commodities among three routes (city-pairs): Atlanta/Baltimore, Baltimore/Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh/Atlanta. Significant costs, their cost behavior, and activity rates for April are as follows:

Operating statistics from the management information system reveal the following for April:

Instructions

1. Prepare a contribution margin by route report for East Coast Railroad Company for the month of April. Compute the contribution margin ratio in whole percents, rounded to one decimal place.

2. Discuss the route performance of the railroad using the above report.

East Coast Railroad Company transports commodities among three routes (city-pairs): Atlanta/Baltimore, Baltimore/Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh/Atlanta. Significant costs, their cost behavior, and activity rates for April are as follows:

Operating statistics from the management information system reveal the following for April:

Instructions

1. Prepare a contribution margin by route report for East Coast Railroad Company for the month of April. Compute the contribution margin ratio in whole percents, rounded to one decimal place.

2. Discuss the route performance of the railroad using the above report.

PLEASE ANSWER #5! thanks!

Roadrunner Trucking Company is a nationwide truckload carrier. They operate in a highly-competitive market on a very thin margin. Below are the projected figures for 2016: Revenue per mile $5.00 Variable cost per mile $ 4.50 Projected fixed costs $5,000,000 Desired after tax profit $500,000 Tax rate 25%

1. Compute the contribution rate and computation rate margin.

2. Calculate the breakeven in miles and sales dollars based on the information from Question 1.

3. Management is reviewing a proposal from their liability insurance company. The proposal suggests the company change their premium from a fixed to a variable rate. If accepted, this would increase the variable costs by 25 cents per mile and drop the fixed costs by 2%. Should they make the change? Show calculations to support or answer.

4. Shareholders are pressuring management to increase after-tax profit and thus increase the amount of dividends that can be paid. Management thinks they can increase revenue per mile by 5% and with an aggressive cost-cutting program, which will reduce fixed costs by 10%. With this program they project after-tax profits would increase by 15%.

5. Compare the three alternatives. Which is best? Explain your answer.

Comfort Surroundings is a retail home furnishing retailer. CSI has been located in Jonesboro, GA for 25 years and has had general success. CSI’s primary market has been residential customers located within 15 miles of Jonesboro. CSI considers itself to be a full-service provider, including delivery and installation services. The owner is Eric Watson and most of the management and staff leaders are family members.

Presently, CSI product lines are:

• Kitchen appliances (such as stoves and refrigerators)
• Kitchen and dining sets
• Living and family room
• Bedrooms

Summary of recent business trends:

Mr. Watson has contacted you to assist him in understanding the trends and to develop a marketing strategy to increase sustainability and reverse what appears to negative trends.

1. Discuss any need for exploratory research. What types of exploratory research would you recommend? Explain your recommendations

2. What would be the research plan?

Please answer in-depth and great detail.

France stands as one of the world's leading economic powers, possessing large agricultural, industrial and service sectors. France operates a mixed economy that combines capitalist and socialist characteristics. Capitalism involves private ownership of capital and other means of production. Under socialism, the government directs economic activity and owns all or part of most industries. Despite extensive reforms over the years that have reduced government intervention in the economy, the French government still exercises great control over the economy, owning shares in many of the country's largest companies.

Quick Facts:

• French Republic
• Capital: Paris
• Population 63.5 million
• Area 543,965 sq km (210,026 sq miles)
• Major language French
• Major religion Christianity
• Life expectancy 78 years (men), 85 years (women)
• Currency Euro
• President: Emmanuel Mac

How does the French anti-globalization movement make sense given their culture and economic system? Why?

• How do these article relate other countries with anti-globalization sentiments like Great Britain, India, and the United States or do they?
• What current economic and cultural influences will effective globalization in the near future? Are these factors going to have a positive or negative effect? Why?
• In your opinion, is globalization beneficial?

Global Freightways is considering the purchase of a new airplane to fly between Tokyo (NRT) and Singapore (SIN), a distance of 2,869 nautical miles. Global Freightways is evaluating two models of aircraft: the Boeing 747-400, which can safely carry 124 tons of freight and the slightly smaller Boeing 777, with an effective capacity of 104 tons. Costs associated with each:

Global Freightways can earn $2 revenue per ton/mile on this route, and expects to fly this plane loaded in both directions between SIN and NRT.

a. What does a break-even analysis indicate about the two choices of aircraft? It is tempting to say the Boeing 777 ‘has a lower break-even point’, but that is a dangerous statement considering that the Boeing 777 is a smaller aircraft.
b. Assuming Global loads each aircraft to its effective capacity, compute the adjusted break-even points to reflect that

* Remember that the 747-400 can safely carry 124 tons of freight and the slightly smaller Boeing 777 has an effective capacity of 104 tons.

12.

In a sample of Starbucks customers it was found that the number of individual items bought per month at Starbucks was 15 with a standard deviation of 17. Assume the data to be approximately bell-shaped. Approximately 95% of the time, the number of monthly items purchased was between two values A and B. What is the value of B? Write only a number as your answer.

13.

A study studied the birth weights of 1,729 babies born in the United States. The mean weight was 3234 grams with a standard deviation of 871 grams. Assume that birth weight data are approximately bell-shaped. Estimate the number of newborns who weighed between 1492 grams and 4976 grams. Write only a number as your answer. Round your answer to the nearest whole number.

14.

For a certain type of truck, the mean number of miles per gallon is 23.5 and the standard deviation is 4.3 . Assume gas mileage for this type of truck to be approximately bell-shaped. Compute the z-score for a truck whose gas mileage is 14 .

Write only a number as your answer. Round your answer to two decimal places (for example: 3.15).

15.

A population has mean 26 and standard deviation 8 . What is the data value that has a z-score of 1 ? Write only a number as your answer.

East Coast Railroad Company transports commodities among three routes (city-pairs): Atlanta/Baltimore, Baltimore/Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh/Atlanta. Significant costs, their cost behavior, and activity rates for April are as follows:

Operating statistics from the management information system reveal the following for April:

Instructions

1. Prepare a contribution margin by route report for East Coast Railroad Company for the month of April. Compute the contribution margin ratio in whole percents, rounded to one decimal place.

2. Discuss the route performance of the railroad using the above report.

Note: add citations when necessary.