Question

Companies A and B are in the same industry and are identical except for cost structure. At a volume of 50,000 units, the companies have equal net incomes. At 60,000 units, Company A's net income would be substantially higher than B's. Based on this information,
A. Company A's cost structure has more variable costs than B's.
B. Company A's cost structure has higher fixed costs than B's.
C. Company B's cost structure has higher fixed costs than A's.
D. At a volume of 50,000 units, Company A's magnitude of operating leverage was lower than B's.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Company A's cost structure has higher fixed costs than B's.

Explanation:

Let's see the formula for income:

50,000 units x sales price - variable cost x 50,000 - fixed = net income

50,000 (sales - variable) - fixed = net income

At 50,000 both have equal net income.

Also we are given the fact that their sales is the same.

"identical except for cost structure"

So:

$50,000 (S-V_a)-Fixed_a = 50,000 (S-V_b)-Fixed_b$

We work it and remove sales from the equation:

$50,000S-50,000V_a-Fixed_a = 50,000S-50,000V_b-Fixed_b$

$-50,000Variable_a-Fixed_a = -50,000Variable_b-Fixed_b$

At 60,000 units, Company A has a higer income, so the increase of variable cost in company A is lower than company B

The cost of 10,000 more units is all variable cost, if Company A has more income, then their variable are lower.

If variable cost for 10,000 is lower, same applies for the variable cost for 50,000 so we have:

10,000Va < 10,000 Vb

50,000Va < 50,000Vb

So to have equal income at 50,000 units.

Fixed of A > Fixed of B