Final answer:
The average collection period is calculated by dividing 365 days by the accounts receivable turnover, providing a measure of how quickly a company collects payments from its customers on credit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average collection period is an important financial metric that indicates how long it takes a company to collect payments from its credit customers. It is computed by dividing 365 days by the accounts receivable turnover, which can also be understood as the number of times a company collects its average accounts receivable in a year. So, the correct answer to the student's question is:
B) 365 days by the accounts receivable turnover.
The formula can be represented as:
Average Collection Period = 365 days / Accounts Receivable Turnover
This calculation provides insight into the effectiveness of a company's credit policies and accounts receivable management.