Final answer:
To calculate the accounting break-even level of production, the fixed costs minus depreciation are divided by the contribution margin per unit. The break-even volume for this project is 299 units since fractional units cannot be sold.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the accounting break-even level of production, we need to determine the number of units that must be sold to cover all costs including depreciation, which is a non-cash expense that reduces reported earnings. The formula to find the accounting break-even point is:
Total Fixed Costs − Annual Depreciation + (Variable Cost per Unit × Number of Units) = Sales Price per Unit × Number of Units.
Given the fixed costs of $3,200 and annual depreciation of $878, we subtract depreciation from fixed costs to get $2,322. As the sales price per unit is $13.39 and the variable cost per unit is $5.61, the contribution margin per unit is $13.39 - $5.61 = $7.78. Therefore, the break-even volume can be calculated by dividing the adjusted fixed costs by the contribution margin:
Accounting Break-Even Volume = $2,322 / $7.78 = 298.46 units.
Since it's not possible to sell a fraction of a unit, the company must sell at least 299 units to break even on an accounting basis.