Answer: $2,150,000
Explanation: Let
T = Total expenses of Joint-Serve
Then, before the company acquired robotic assemblers, the expenses allocated for payroll is given by
Expenses for Payroll = 43% of Total Expenses
Expenses for Payroll = 0.43T (1)
(Because 43% = 0.43)
Because the total expenses increased by $250,000 after spending for robotic assemblers, the total expenses = T + 250,000
So, the payroll expense is now calculated as
Expenses for Payroll = 38% of Total Expenses
Expenses for Payroll = 0.38(T + 250,000) (2)
(Because 38% = 0.38 and total expenses = T + 250,000)
By comparing equations (1) and (2),

Thus, the total expense before the purchase of robotic assemblers is T = $ 1,900,000. Therefore, the total expense after purchasing the robotic assemblers is T + 250,000 = 1,900,000 + 250,000 =
$2,150,000