Final answer:
The operating cycle of a manufacturing company starts with purchasing inventory and lasts until the receivables for the sold inventory are collected.
Step-by-step explanation:
The operating cycle of a manufacturing company can be best described as follows:
Option A is the correct answer. The operating cycle starts with purchasing inventory for the operations, using either cash or credit. It then continues until the receivables for the inventory sold on credit are collected back in cash. This cycle involves the entire process of purchasing, producing, and selling goods, and includes the conversion of inventory into receivables.