Answer:
a) Indicating whether the companies are a service, retail, or manufacturing business.
1. Alcoa Inc. : Manufacturing Business
2. Boeing : Manufacturing Business
3. Caterpillar : Manufacturing Business
4. Citigroup Inc. : Service Business
5. CVS : Retail Business
6. Dow Chemical Company : Manufacturing Business
7. eBay Inc. : Service Business
8. FedEx : Service Business
9. Ford Motor Company : Manufacturing Business
10. Gap Inc. : Retail business
11. H&R Block : Service Business
12. Hilton Hospitality, Inc. : Service Business
13. Procter & Gamble : Manufacturing Business
14. SunTrust : Service Business
15. Wal-mart Stores, Inc. : Retail business
b) The accounting equation serves as a foundational block for the accounting system of all companies therefore it is relevant to all businesses.
Explanation: