Question

A company is considering replacing an old piece of machinery, which cost $105,000 and has $55,000 of accumulated depreciation to date, with a new machine that has a purchase price of $83,000. The old machine could be sold for $56,300. The annual variable production costs associated with the old machine are estimated to be $8,500 per year for eight years. The annual variable production costs for the new machine are estimated to be $5,000 per year for eight years.

a. Prepare a differential analysis dated April 29 to determine whether to continue with (Alternative 1) or replace (Alternative 2) the old machine.
b. What is the sunk cost in this situation?

Answer 1

Replacing the old machine would produce a net saving of $1,300

The sunk cost in this situation is the purchase cost (i.e $105,000) of the old machine.

Step-by-step explanation:

Differential Analysis

Purchase cost of the new machine (83,000)

Savings from annual variable cost(8500×8) 68,000

Variable cost of running the new machine (5,000×8) (40,000)

Scrap value of the old machine 56,300

Differential savings 1,300

Replacing the old machine would produce a net saving of $1,300

The sunk cost in this situation is the purchase cost (i.e $105,000) of the old machine. It is a past cost incurred as a result old decision.