A coffee company uses a​ data-based approach to improving the quality and customer satisfaction of its products. When survey data indicated that the coffee company needed to improve its​ package-sealing process, an experiment was conducted to determine the factors in the​ bag-sealing equipment that might be affecting the ease of opening the bag without tearing the inner liner of the bag. One factor that could affect the rating of the ability of the bag to resist tears was the plate gap on the​ bag-sealing equipment. Data were collected on 19 bags in which the plate gap was varied. Complete parts​ (a) through​ (e) below.

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a. Construct a scatter plot. Choose the correct graph below.

A.

-15-15Tear RatingPlate Gap

Edit Coordinates(0,0)

A scatter plot has a horizontal axis labeled Tear Rating from negative 1 to 5 to in increments of 1 and a vertical axis labeled Plate Gap from negative 2 to 5 in increments of 1. A series of plotted points range from horizontal coordinates 0.0 to 0.9 and vertical coordinates negative 1.2 to 2.2 with no obvious pattern. Also, the following individual points are plotted: (1.9,2.2), (4.0,0.0), (4.3,2.2). All coordinates are approximate.

B.

-15-11Tear RatingPlate Gap

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A scatter plot has a horizontal axis labeled Tear Rating from negative 1 to 5 to in increments of 1 and a vertical axis labeled Plate Gap from negative 1.25 to 1 in increments of 0.25. A series of plotted points range from horizontal coordinates 0.0 to 0.9 and vertical coordinates negative 1.2 to 0.5 with no obvious pattern. Also, the following individual points are plotted: (1.9,0.1), (4.0,0.6), (4.3,0.2). All coordinates are approximate.

C.

-11-15Plate GapTear Rating

Edit Coordinates(0,0)

A scatter plot has a horizontal axis labeled Plate Gap from negative 1.25 to 1 in increments of 0.25 and a vertical axis labeled Tear Rating from negative 1 to 5 to in increments of 1. A series of plotted points range from horizontal coordinates negative 1.2 to 0.5 and vertical coordinates 0.0 to 0.9 with no obvious pattern. Also, the following individual points are plotted: (0.1,1.9), (0.6,4.0), (0.2,4.3). All coordinates are approximate.

D.

-15-15Plate GapTear Rating

Edit Coordinates(0,0)

A scatter plot has a horizontal axis labeled Plate Gap from negative 2 to 5 in increments of 1 and a vertical axis labeled Tear Rating from negative 1 to 5 to in increments of 1. A series of plotted points range from horizontal coordinates negative 1.2 to 2.2 and vertical coordinates 0.0 to 0.9 with no obvious pattern. Also, the following individual points are plotted: (0.4,1.9), (negative 0.3,4.0), (2.2,4.3). All coordinates are approximate.b. Assuming a linear​ relationship, use the​ least-squares method to find the regression coefficients

b0

and

b1.

c. Interpret the meaning of the​ slope,

b1​,

in this problem. Choose the correct answer below.

A.

For each increase of one in the tear​ rating, the plate gap is expected to increase by

b1

units.

B.

The approximate plate gap when the tear rating is 0 is

b1

units.

C.

The approximate tear rating when the plate gap is 0 units is

b1.

D.

For each​ one-unit increase in the plate​ gap, the tear rating is expected to increase by

b1.

d. Predict the mean tear rating when the plate gap is equal to 0.

nothing

​(Round to four decimal places as​ needed.)

e. What should you tell management of the coffee company about the relationship between the plate gap and the tear​ rating?

A.

The tear rating is not affected by the plate gap.

B.

The tear rating is affected by the plate gap. As the plate gap​ increases, the tear rating

increasesincreases.

C.

As the plate gap​ increases, the tear rating

decreasesdecreases.

The tear rating is affected by the plate gap.

D.

As the tear rating​ increases, the plate gap decreases. The plate gap is affected by the tear rating.

QUESTION 4

1. A eurozone citizen observes the spot rate between euros and pounds is currently £1.04/€. Assume the expected inflation rates over the course of the year in the eurozone and the UK are 3% and 2%, respectively. Suppose the spot rates for euros and pounds at the end of the year are as follows:

   $1.15/€, $1.11/£

   Which of the following statements is true according to relative PPP?

   		The euro appreciated in real terms.
   		The pound appreciated in real terms.
   		Neither the euro nor the pound appreciated in real terms.
   		Cannot be determined.

QUESTION 6

1. Use the following information to answer the next two questions.

   Investors expect inflation rates over the next twelve months in the US and Japan to be 8% and 3%, respectively.  The current exchange rates for the two currencies are as follows:

   C$.007/¥,   C$1.02/$

   Suppose that twelve months from now, the exchange rate between US dollars and yen is $.0071/¥.  According to relative PPP, what be theimpact of this new exchange rate on the US balance of trade?  (Assume the US is the home country and ignore any possible feedback loop.)Round intermediate steps to four decimals.

   		The US BOT will increase.
   		The US BOT will decrease.
   		The US BOT will not be affected.
   		Cannot be determined.

Assume that a worker has the Utility Function U(C,L) = C ^0.25​ ​ L^0.75​

“C” refers to consumption in dollars and “L” to hours of leisure in a day. The worker has an offered wage of $10 per hour, 20 hours available for leisure or work per day, and $90 dollars a day from non-labour income.

a)     ​ Find the budget constraint equation of the individual._​                  

b)    ​ Find the optimal choice for the individual in terms of units of leisure and income,_​                        the number of hours worked and the utility obtained.

c)     ​ Make a well labeled graph that illustrates the solution to the problem of the worker._​                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

d)    ​ Find the supply equation of the individual._​          

e)     ​ Calculate the reservation wage and briefly explain the definition._​

Montoure Company uses a perpetual inventory system. It entered into the following calendar-year purchases and sales transactions

Compute the cost assigned to ending inventory using (a) FIFO, (b) LIFO, (c) weighted average, and (d) specific identification. For specific identification, units sold consist of 600 units from beginning inventory, 380 from the February 10 purchase, 120 from the March 13 purchase, 130 from the August 21 purchase, and 205 from the September 5 purchase. (Round your average cost per unit to 2 decimal places.)

Compute gross profit earned by the company for each of the four costing methods

From a random sample of 51 adults who earn an associate’s degree from a community college (but no education beyond), the mean lifetime earnings was $1.6 million. The sample standard deviation was $0.5 million. Construct a 95% confidence interval for the mean lifetime income of adults with no more than an associate’s degree. Interpret your result.

The following report outlines the most recent data on the current US budget deficit. Please discuss in full how you believe deficit spending has influenced the US economy. Your essay should (1) describe the factors contributing to this deficit, i.e. the effect of taxes and spending on the US budget deficit. (2) Explain, using aggregate supply and aggregate demand analysis why the white House believes deficit spending will boosts US economic growth. (3) Explain, based on the current state of the economy whether deficit spending will have an inflationary effect on the economy, and whether it will significantly enhance economic growth. You must use current information reported by the BLS on CPI and GDP trends when presenting this explanation. You must also use aggregate supply and aggregate demand analysis when presenting this explanation. (4) Your explanation on the tax cut effect must use the tax multiplier to reveal how a tax cut effects aggregate demand. (5) explain supply side economics and this theory’s hypothesis on the expected effect of economic growth due to a tax reduction. Your essay should be at least five paragraphs that separately address each of the number required explanations, and must include a figure of aggregate demand and aggregate supply to refer to when explaining you view on this topic.

Bloomberg U.S. Budget Deficit Widens to $319 Billion Amid Flat Revenue By Katia Dmitrieva

February 13, 2019 1:00 PM CST Updated on February 13, 2019 1:40 PM CST

The U.S. budget deficit widened to $319 billion in the first three months of the government’s fiscal year as spending increased and revenue was little changed, according to the Treasury Department.

The shortfall grew by 42 percent between the October to December period, compared with the same three months the previous year, according to the latest Treasury monthly budget report released on Wednesday. Receipts climbed by 0.2 percent to $771.2 billion, while spending was up 9.6 percent to $1.1 trillion.

The latest data will likely fan concerns over America’s growing national debt, which topped $22 trillion this week. The fiscal deficit is projected to keep growing and surpass $1 trillion by 2022, according to the Congressional Budget Office, fueled in part by President Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion tax-cut package and government spending increases. The White House has said the measures will boost U.S. economic growth and create jobs.

Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Chinese goods and other imports including steel and aluminum are boosting revenue. Customs receipts nearly doubled to $17.8 billion in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to Treasury. The trend is “largely because of new tariffs imposed by administration in the past year,” according to a separate budget analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released last month.

Corporate and individual-income tax receipts both fell in the quarter, by 17.3 percent and 3.5 percent respectively, the Treasury data showed.

The growing budget deficit is concerning for fiscal hawks, who say it risks economic growth and U.S. credit quality. Net interest payments on the national debt jumped 19 percent to $99.6 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

The government ran a deficit of $13.5 billion in December, compared with a $23.2 billion-gap the same month a year prior, according to Treasury. The department’s report was originally scheduled for release in January but was delayed by the partial government shutdown.

Advanced Widget Systems Corporation has two divisions: manufacturing and sales. A widget is an expensive semiconductor-based device that looks high-tech and performs no useful function. These properties make widgets very popular with corporate executives.  

In the widget industry, when a new worker is hired both he and his supervisor are equally ignorant about his ability. There is no skill involved in making and marketing; however, natural ability matters a great deal. An individual assigned to marketing either sells 12 widgets a year or he sells nothing. Similarly, a production worker is either able to produce 12 widgets a year or he is not able to produce any widgets at all. It is known that: • Everybody capable of selling widgets is capable of making them; • One out of four people can both sell and make widgets • Two out of four people are making widgets A probationary period under expensive managerial supervision is necessary in order to learn the individual’s type. The costs associated with the probationary period in manufacturing are $10,000. In other words, at a cost of $10,000 the firm can learn if a particular worker is capable of producing widgets. In order to evaluate the individual’s marketing ability, a more expensive screening procedure is needed. It costs $30,000 to find out if a person is able to sell widgets. Currently, this firm is hiring entry level workers only into manufacturing. Those who do not show themselves as able widget-makers are dismissed after probation. Some of the able widget-makers are retained in manufacturing, while others are given an opportunity to do probation in marketing. That is, they are screened for ability to sell widgets, at a cost of $30,000 to the company. Those who fail in marketing are sent back to the widget manufacturing division.

Can this policy be improved? Which of the following options best describes your answer? Briefly explain.

i. The firm will do better by hiring some of the workers directly into marketing. It makes little sense to take an able widget-maker from manufacturing and send him to costly marketing probation knowing that he will fail there with a probability of 0.5.

ii. The company will do better by firing workers who failed in marketing.

iii. The firm can improve its profits by hiring workers only into marketing, where their ability to sell widgets is tested, and then transferring some into manufacturing

iv. The firm is following the optimal screening strategy.

Company Overview

United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS or 'the company') is one of the largest package delivery companies in the world. It provides various logistics services, including less-than-truckload services as well as supply chain management operations in more than 220 countries and territories. The company operates globally with major presence in North America and Europe. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

The company reported revenues of (US Dollars) US$60,906 million for the fiscal year ended December 2016 (FY2016), an increase of 4.4% over FY2015. In FY2016, the company’s operating margin was 9%, compared to an operating margin of 13.1% in FY2015. In FY2016, the company recorded a net margin of 5.6%, compared to a net margin of 8.3% in FY2015.

Given your understanding of the company described in the handout, address the following.

a) Briefly discuss the company’s business-level strategy and describe its target market. Take care to share how the company is able to pursue this business-level strategy .

b) Briefly discuss the corporate-level strategy pursued by the company. Take care to discuss the level of diversification the company uses .

c) Identify and describe one weakness, opportunity, and threat (three in total) the company should address to achieve its desired performance goals. Take care to offer two potential strategic solutions for each item identified in part c (six in total) .