Final answer:
The question requires an understanding of inventory management principles in a business context, specifically relating to ordering and carrying costs, and the impact of economies of scale on production and pricing strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves calculating various components of inventory management, such as ordering costs, carrying costs, and determining appropriate levels of inventory based on seasonal demand, lead times, and cost factors. This scenario likely pertains to an operations management or supply chain management course within a business program. The focus here is on understanding the financial implications of inventory decisions in a business context, leveraging principles like the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) and the consideration of carrying and ordering costs in the procurement process.
If the lead times of products were much longer or if more realistic prices were considered, such as the examples provided in the query ($17,147.51 or $27,654.92), the complexity of managing inventory and determining the total quantity spent over a year would increase. Additionally, understanding concepts like economies of scale is essential, as it impacts the cost of production and ultimately the pricing and quantity supplied in the market, which Table 3.7 titled Rent Control attempts to illustrate with different price points and corresponding quantities supplied at each price level.