Question

Adriana Corporation manufactures football equipment. In planning for next year, the managers want to understand the relation between activity and overhead costs. Discussions with the plant supervisor suggest that overhead seems to vary with labor-hours, machine-hours, or both. The following data were collected from last year's operations:

Month Labor-Hours Machine-Hours Overhead Costs
1 730 1,354 $ 102,748
2 710 1,401 103,792
3 690 1,514 109,835
4 735 1,449 108,346
5 775 1,589 116,252
6 745 1,574 114,581
7 740 1,393 106,947
8 730 1,316 102,010
9 705 1,450 106,479
10 800 1,548 113,012
11 680 1,290 101,925
12 705 1,610 115,205
Required:
(a)
Use the high-low method to estimate the fixed and variable portions of overhead costs based on machine-hours. (Round your variable cost answer to 2 decimal places.)

(b)
Managers expect the plant to operate at a monthly average of 1,400 machine-hours next year. What are the estimated monthly overhead costs, assuming no inflation?

Answer 1

A. Variable cost per hour=$41.50

Fixed cost =$48,390

B. $106,490

Step-by-step explanation:

a. Using the high-low method to estimate the fixed and variable portions

Calculation for the variable cost per hour

Variable cost per hour=(115,205-101,925) / (1,610-1,290)

Variable cost per hour=13,280/320

Variable cost per hour=$41.50

Calculation for fixed cost

Fixed cost= 115,205-1,610*$41.50

Fixed cost =$48,390

B. Calculation for the estimated monthly overhead costs

Overhead cost =$48,390+1,400 machine-hours*$41.50

Overhead cost =$106,490