Answer:
Statement B. Retaining a higher percentage of earnings will result in a higher growth rate.
Explanation:
The earnings are the profits that is left after paying interests and taxes and now all we have to do is pay the dividend. The company pays a percentage of earnings after tax as a dividend and the remainder is reinvested in the business. This helps the company to increase its earnings by reinvestment so that the company is able to lead in the market.
The earnings of the company are not affected by the dividend payout if the working capital is not affected because dividends are dependent on earnings. Hence the statement 1 is incorrect.
This means that the retaining higher percentage of earnings will increase the growth rate as the reinvestment has increased and it will increase the earnings. Hence the statement 2 is correct.
Company doesn't pay dividend to shareholders for reinvestment in the company. They pay dividends because the shareholders demand return on the risk associated with the investment. Hence the statement 3 is incorrect.
This table shows Lucas’s budget from last month. He also included his actual expenses after the month ended. Which of these changes should Lucas consider in next month’s budget? Check all that apply. less for income less for food more for discretionary spending more for income less for discretionary spending
Answer:
Less for income
Less for food
less for discretionary spending
Explanation:
Luca has prepared the budget for the month. He has included actual expenses in the budget to compare the budget with actual expenses. He has used flexed budgeting technique to incorporate his savings and expenses. He should keep less income, less for food and less for discretionary expenses in the new budget.
Answer:
A: less for income
B: less for food
E: less for discretionary spending
Explanation:
In his new budget he needs to do less for income, less for food, and less for discretionary spending. He needs less for income because in his budget it assumes he makes 400$ a month, however this month he made 375$. He needs to cut down on food an discretionary spending because he is spending too much for the amount he makes.
Gilroy Crackers enjoys a competitive advantage as a cost leader because high demand for its products has allowed it to operate at the minimum efficient scale. Which of the following scenarios would be most concerning to the managers of Gilroy Crackers? A major winter storm shuts down Gilroy's production for several days. Gilroy's most reliable production worker takes a job in another industry. Gilroy's leading competitor develops a new low-sodium product. A wheat shortage raises input costs across the industry.
Answer:
Explanation:
Gilroy has been enjoying a cost leadership advantage as a result of a high demand for its product in the market , which has made him to operate at a minimum efficient scale. This means that any action that disrupts the production activities of Gilroy crackers will be of great concern to the managers as demand for crackers might not be met and the cost competitive advantage lost.
One action here that could cause this is if a major storm shut down Gilroy's production for several days. Production will be affected and customers high demand might not be met as a result.
The three people described in the following table are categorized as unemployed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Identify each person in the table as structurally, frictionally, or cyclically unemployed.
Unemployment Type
Structural
Frictional
Cyclical
1. Teresa is a physician who has decided to relocate to California to be closer to her family. She is currently interviewing with several prestigious hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Automobile demand has fallen during a recent recession, and Beth has been laid off from her job on the assembly line.
2. Sam recently lost his job as a waiter at a local restaurant. A recent increase in the minimum wage keeps local employers from adding more of the low-skill positions for which he qualifies, so he has been unable to find work.
3. He continues to look for a job, but he's considering going back to school for vocational training. The following table shows data on frictional, cyclical, structural, and total unemployment for an economy.
Unemployment Type Rate
(Percent)
Frictional 1.1
Cyclical 0.0
Structural 3.2
Total unemployment 4.3
This economy is not currently at its natural rate of unemployment.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
1. Teresa is a physician who has decided to relocate to California to be closer to her family. She is currently interviewing with several prestigious hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area. - Frictional
Frictional unemployment consists of the people who are in between jobs. Teresa is in between jobs because she moved to California, but she is expected to find new employment soon.
Automobile demand has fallen during a recent recession, and Beth has been laid off from her job on the assembly line. - Cyclical
Cyclical unemployment increases when the economy is in recession, and decreases when the economy is growing. In this case, Beth has been laid off because the market for automobiles is experiencing a downturn, thus, he is in cyclical unemployment.
Sam recently lost his job as a waiter at a local restaurant. A recent increase in the minimum wage keeps local employers from adding more of the low-skill positions for which he qualifies, so he has been unable to find work. - Structural
Structural unemployment occurs when a person's skills are mismatched with market demand. Sam's skills are not productive enough for him to be hired at the current minimum wage or above, therefore, he will have to acquire more skills in order to be hired again by another firm. He is in structural unemployment.
This economy is not currently at its natural rate of unemployment. - b. False
The natural rate of unemployment occurs when there is no cyclical unemployment, and there is only frictional and structural unemployment. In this case, the unemployment rate is 0.0, meaning that the economy is at its natural rate of unemployment.
A parent company is a company that ________. A. has any level of investment in another company B. is controlled by another corporation C. is the first to begin operations in an industry D. owns a controlling interest in another company
Which is an argument against the use of the ability-to-pay principal of taxation? (Select 1) It is difficult to determine who receives benefits from government spending. People are not willing to pay unless they receive something in return. People who earn more money have benefitted more from society. It reduces the incentive to work hard and take risks to succeed.
Answer:
It reduces the incentive to work hard and take risks to succeed
Explanation:
The argument against the use of the ability-to-pay principal of taxation is that It reduces the incentive to work hard and make more money and take risks to succeed .
Although Ability to pay principal of taxation believe that a person or an individual tax should depend on what the tax will tend to create to such individual when compared to the wealth of that individual, but many people argue that there should be equity , meaning everybody should pay the same tax rate in such a way that a person or an individual tax rate should not be higher or lesser than another person tax rate.
Knowledge can be a real competitive advantage for an organization. The most common form of collective intelligence found inside the organization is knowledge management (KM), which involves capturing, classifying, evaluating, retrieving, and sharing information assets in a way that provides context for effective decisions and actions.
a) True
b) False
Answer:
True
knowledge is power
Stitches Corporation enters into a contract to sell denim clothing to Trend Fashion Company, which in turn sells the clothing to consumers. In contrast to standards that apply to consumers, the UCC imposes on merchants:_________
a. less strict legal standards.
b. special business standards.
c. stricter ethical standards.
d. the same overall standards.
Answer:
B. special business standards.
Explanation:
In this scenario, Stitches Corporation enters into a contract to sell denim clothing to Trend Fashion Company, which in turn sells the clothing to consumers. In contrast to standards that apply to consumers, the uniform commercial code (UCC) imposes on merchants is the special business standards.
The uniform commercial code (UCC) is a set of standardized business laws which are put in place for the regulation of financial contracts and commercial transactions used across different states in the United States of America.
There are special rules known as the special business standards that are set up by UCC governing the merchants and the sales of goods in the Article 2 of the uniform commercial code.
Two companies report the same cost of goods available for sale but each employs a different inventory costing method. If the price of goods has increased during the period then the company using:______
a. LIFO will have the highest ending inventory
b. FIFO will have the highest cost of good sold
c. FIFO will have the highest ending inventory
d. LIFO will have the lowest cost of goods sold
Answer:
c. FIFO will have the highest ending inventory
Explanation:
FIFO means first in, first out. it means it is the first purchased inventory that is the first to be sold.
LIFO means last in first out. it means that it is the last purchased inventory that is the first to be sold.
If FIFO inventory method is used, the first purchased inventory is the first to be sold and price increased during the period, the beginning inventory would be lower and the ending inventory would be higher when compared to a company using LIFO
Which one of the following statements is correct?
A. A portfolio variance is a weighted average of the variances of the individual securities which
comprise the portfolio.
B. A portfolio variance is dependent upon the portfolio;s asset allocation..
C. A portfolio variance is unaffected by the correlations between the individual securities held in
the portfolio.
D. The portfolio variance must be greater than the lowest variance of any of the securities held in
the portfolio.
E. The portfolio variance must be less than the lowest variance of any of the securities held in the
portfolio.
Answer:
B. A portfolio variance is dependent upon the portfolio's asset allocation.
Explanation:
A portfolio variance is used to determine the overall risk or dispersion of returns of a portfolio and it is the square of the standard deviation associated with the particular portfolio.
Hence, the correct statement among the options given is that, a portfolio variance is dependent upon the portfolio's asset allocation.
The portfolio variance is given by the equation;
[tex]Variance = w^{2}_{1} d^{2}_{1} + w^{2}_{2} d^{2}_{2}+2w_{1}w_{2}C_{OV_{1, 2}}[/tex]
Where;
[tex]w_{n}[/tex] = the weight of the nth security.
[tex]d^{2}_{n}[/tex] = the variance of the nth security.
[tex]C_{OV_{1, 2}}[/tex] = the covariance of the two security.
A plant manager had taken a few measures to try to reduce worker turnover. For four months he monitored the implementation of the measures. He now finds that the turnover rate is reduced by 10 percent. Which step of the rational decision-making model is illustrated in the scenario
Answer:
Evaluating the results.
Explanation:
A Rational decision-making model is demonstrated as the structured and logical decision-making process consisting of various steps beginning from definition and identification of goals to reaching an effective solution after evaluation of plenty of alternatives.
In this situation, 'evaluating the results' is the step of rational-decision making process that is illustrated in this scenario as it aims to assess the effect of the implementation of the best solution selected in the previous step after assessing the problem and evaluating a number of alternatives. This step aims to test whether the solution worked and to give feedback on how to alter future decisions for better results according to this assessment.
If people's expectations of inflation are formed rationally rather than based on adaptive expectations and if policymakers make a credible policy move to reduce inflation, then the costs of reducing inflation will be ______ traditional estimates of the sacrifice ratio. Group of answer choices
Correct/Complete Question:
If people's expectations of inflation are formed rationally rather than based on adaptive expectations and if policymakers make a credible policy move to reduce inflation, then the costs of reducing inflation will be ______ traditional estimates of the sacrifice ratio.
A) much higher than
B) much lower than
C) exactly equal to
D) approximately two percent greater than
Answer:
B, much lower than
Explanation:
Inflation can be defined as the continuous increase in price of goods and services over a period of time.
Inflation can as much as possible affect the economy of a country or state, etc. This is because if policy makers listen to the rationally formed expectations and opinions of the people to make reduce inflation, it will be much lesser compared to the traditional estimates of the sacrifice ratio.
Cheers.
Which of the following is a cloud computing element that gives a service provider the ability to dynamically allocate shared physical resources to multiple customers based on each customer's usage demand?
A. On-demand.
B. Resource pooling.
C. Measured Service.
D. Rapid Elasticity.
Answer:
B. Resource pooling.
Explanation:
-On-demand means that clients can get the service when and where they need it.
-Resource pooling refers to grouping resources to provide the service to different customers in a way in which the resources are assigned according to the demand of each client.
-Measured Service is when a company monitors the service that is providing for different purposes like billing.
-Rapid Elasticity is the ability that the company providing the service has to modify the resources according to the demand.
According to the definitions, the answer is that the cloud computing element that gives a service provider the ability to dynamically allocate shared physical resources to multiple customers based on each customer's usage demand is resource pooling.
A sunk cost can best be described as: Group of answer choices a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be removed. a form of financing cost. the cash flows of a new project that come at the expense of existing projects. an important cost to include in the capital budgeting process. the same thing as an opportunity cost
Answer:
Sunk Cost
A sunk cost can best be described as:
a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be removed.
Explanation:
A sunk cost for Manufacturer X is a cost that has already been incurred. It is irrelevant for any future decision making because it cannot be recovered or removed. By its nature, a sunk cost is a fixed cost. For example, the costs of purchasing an item of equipment, building an office building, and other noncurrent expenditure are sunk costs . If management is making decisions based on differential or incremental costing, such sunk costs are not considered.
Eve Cosmetics Company consists of two departments, Blending and Filling. The Filling Department received 50,000 ounces from the Blending Department. During the period, the Filling Department completed 46,000 ounces, including 4,000 ounces of work in process at the beginning of the period. The ending work in process inventory was 8,000 ounces. How many ounces were started and completed during the period?
Answer:
The number of ounces started and completed during the period is 42,000 ounces.
Explanation:
The number of ounces started and completed during the period can be computed by simply deducting the beginning work in process from the number of ounces completed.
Since we have the following from the question:
Number of ounces completed by Filling = 46,000 ounces
Beginning work in process = 4,000 ounces
Therefore, we have:
Number of ounces started and completed = Number of ounces completed by Filling - Beginning work in process = 46,000 ounces - 4,000 ounces = 42,000 ounces
Therefore, the number of ounces started and completed during the period is 42,000 ounces.
China's steel industry:___________
A) has declined in recent years owing to a surge in production in Japan.
B) has grown due to proximity to primary inputs such as iron ore and coal.
C) has declined due to demand for foreign cars.
D) has increased as a result of a U.S. trade agreement.
E) is well behind production in India and South Korea.
Answer:
B
Explanation:
If I'm not wrong, their steel industry is still growing due to the inputs of iron ore and coal.
One problem in the interstate trucking industry is the number of trucks that return after making a delivery with an empty truck. There is a website where independent interstate truckers can look for loads that they can carry with them on their return trip. Because the trucks would be returning empty (and inefficiently), truckers who use this website to get business that they would not have had without it and charge a reduced shipping rate. This reduced rate is an example of:
Answer:
Yield management pricing.
Explanation:
One problem in the interstate trucking industry is the number of trucks that return after making a delivery with an empty truck. However, there is a website where independent interstate truckers can look for loads that they can carry with them on their return trip. Because the trucks would be returning empty (and inefficiently), truckers who use this website to get business that they would not have had without it and charge a reduced shipping rate. This reduced rate is an example of yield management pricing.
Yield management pricing can be defined as a pricing strategy which typically involves having a variety of charges (prices) for the services being provided by an organization at a specific period of time.
Simply stated, it basically involves providing a service at the right price, time and to the right service taker.
The yield management pricing strategy is mostly used by the airline, hotel, travel businesses. The main purpose of the yield management pricing is to maximize profits or generate more revenue.
Health insurance Plan A requires the insured to pay $1000 or 50% of total cost, whichever is lower. Plan B requires the insured to pay the initial $300, but then pays 80% of the cost over $300. Which of the following is a cost level for which both insurance plans pay out the same amount?
A. $600
B. $1000
C. $3800
D. $5300
E. $6200
Answer:
C. $3,800
Explanation:
The computation of the cost level for both insurance policy is shown below:
We choose $1,000 or 50% which ever is lower
We take the help of the given options
a. For the first option
The 50% is 300 which is less than the 1,000 now we take 80% of ($600 - $300) that comes $240
b. For the second option
The 50% is 500 which is less than 500 now we take 80% of ($1,000 - $300) that comes $560
c. For the third optiion
The 50% of $3,800 i.e $1,900 and $1,000 whichever is less i.e ($3,800 - $1,000) = $2,800 so it is $1,000 now we take the 80% of ($3,800 - $300) i.e $2,800
Thus the amount comes same
Thus this is the right option
Which managerial function involves setting goals, establishing a strategy to pursue those goals, and forecasting future threats and opportunities that might influence the company’s needs and strategies? A. planning B. organizing C. leading D. controlling
Answer:
A. Planning
Explanation:
There are five types of management functions i.e planning, organizing, staffing, directing and planning.
The planning refers to the make out a plan how to accomplish the company goals and objectives with the help of making strategy so it is easy for company to reach it also at the same time it forecast the swot analysis i.e (strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats) that affect the needs and strategies of the company
Hence, the correct option is A
In the long run, the monopolistically competitive firm's demand curve will:______.
a. become tangent to the ATC curve somewhere to the left of its minimum point.
b. intersect the ATC at its minimum point.
c. intersect the ATC curve somewhere past the minimum point.
d. become tangent to the ATC curve at its minimum point.
Answer:
a. become tangent to the ATC curve somewhere to the left of its minimum point.
Explanation:
In the long-run, monopolistically competitive firms make zero economic profit, because the free entry and exit of firms that is characteristic of this market structure will result in the reduction of economic profits to zero.
However, the reason why the demand curve becomes tangent to the ATC curve somewhere to the left of its minimum point is because the monopolistically competitive firm will still charge a price that is above minimal average cost.
Finally, the exact location of the tangent point is determined by the intersection of marginal revenue and marginal cost, the tangent point being the price that is exactly above this intersection, in other words, the profit-maximizing price.
Suppose a company owns a fancy 3D printer which cost $1500 to buy. The printer depreciates $200 per year. (a) If the interest rate is 3 percent, what is the implicit rental price of the printer per year? (b) Does your answer to part (a) depend on whether the company used its own money to buy the printer, or if it took out a loan? Why? Suppose a newer edition of the 3D printer comes out for $2000. Because better technology is used, there is less depreciation; it only depreciates by $150 a year. (c) Calculate the implicit rental price for the new edition of the printer. Which edition of the printer - old or new - has a larger implicit rental price? (d) Suppose the interest rate was instead 5 percent, rather than 3 percent. Which edition of the printer - old or new - has a larger implicit rental price? Compare your answer with part (c), and comment on any difference.
Answer:
a) Implicit Rental Price:
Normal annual cost = $200
3% of $1,500 = 45
Implicit rental price = $245
b) The answer to part (a) does not depend on whether the company used its own money to buy the printer or if it took out a loan, provided that the cost of the loan remains within the 3% accepted rate. The reason for my answer is that the calculation of the implicit rental price is an economic measurement that tries to capture the opportunity cost of a project and not just the actual cost.
c) Implicit Rental Price:
Normal annual cost = $150
3% of $2,000 = 60
Implicit rental price = $210
The old edition of the printer has a larger implicit rental price.
d) Interest rate = 5%
Old edition: Implicit Rental Price:
Normal annual cost = $200
5% of $1,500 = 75
Implicit rental price = $275
New Edition:
Normal annual cost = $150
5% of $2,000 = 100
Implicit rental price = $250
The old edition of the printer still has a higher implicit rental price of $270 compared to the new edition's $250, with a difference of $20.
Explanation:
Determining the implicit rental price for the 3D printer, one is forced to consider the lost interest that the investment in the printer would occasion. By this, the use of the implicit rental price ensures that the only cost of a project is not the direct costs, but also includes some opportunity costs. Opportunity costs are costs incurred from the revenue lost because another option is chosen.
The current risk-free rate of return ( rRF ) is 4.67% while the market risk premium is 6.63%. The Burris Company has a beta of 0.78. Using the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) approach, Burris’s cost of equity is
Answer:
9.84%
Explanation:
The current risk free rate of return is 4.67%
The market risk premium is 6.63%
Burris company has a beta of 0.78
Therefore, using the capital assets pricing model the cost of equity can be calculated as follows
Cost of equity= Risk free rate+ Beta×Market risk premium
= 4.67%+0.78×6.63%
= 4.67%+5.171
= 9.84%
Hence Burris's cost of equity is 9.84%
Convergence theory states that collective action occurs when: Group of answer choices strategic planning is done people with similar ideas gather in the same place the setting is right all of the above
Answer: people with similar ideas gather in the same place.
Explanation:
According to the convergence theory, like minded people or economies are always together and gather in the same place. It is the assumption that over time, the group members will be more alike and have the same behavior.
In an organization, it can be referred to as company culture because the employees typically have identical behavios, characteristics, and philosophies.
The 2012 box office receipts for the movie The Avengers were $1,515.8 million. By way of comparison, the 1977 receipts for Star Wars were $798.0 million. If the Consumer Price Index was 60.6 in 1977 and 229.6 in 2012, which of the following is true?
a. The real receipts of The Avengers were almost four times greater than those for Star Wars.
b. The real receipts of Star Wars were nearly two times greater than those for The Avengers.
c. The real receipts of The Avengers were one-third of those for Star Wars.
d. The real receipts of Star Wars were about 33 percent greater than those for The Avengers.
Answer: b. The real receipts of Star Wars were nearly two times greater than those for The Avengers.
Explanation:
Real reciept = (Dollar amount) ×( Ending-period CPI) ÷ (Beginning-period CPI)
Here, Receipt for Avengers in 2012 = $1,515.8 million
Receipt for Star wars in 1977 = $798.0 million
CPI in 2012 = 229.6
CPI in 1977 = 606
Now, Real receipt of Star wars in 2012 = $((798.0) × (229.6) ÷ 60.6)
=$ 3023.45 ≈ Twice of receipt for Avengers in 2012.
[Twice of receipt for Avengers in 2012 = $3031.6]
Hence, the correct statement is b."The real receipts of Star Wars were nearly two times greater than those for The Avengers."
The opportunity cost of producing a bicycle refers to Group of answer choices the marginal cost of the last bicycle produced. the bicycle's retail price. the out-of-pocket payments made to produce the bicycle. the value of the goods that were given up to produce the bicycle.
Answer:
the value of the goods that were given up to produce the bicycle.
Explanation:
Opportunity cost is the cost of the next best option forgone when one option is chosen over other alternatives.
the opportunity cost of purchasing the bicycle is the value of other things that could have been bought instead of the bicycle
The Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to rule on whether pollution from greenhouse gas emissions endangers public safety. Among the many greenhouse gas polluters are cows emitting methane. Economists have devised a theory to help address this issue. Identify the statement that is true according to economic theory
Answer:
The interpretation of that same particular question is demonstrated in the following segment on the response.
Explanation:
The economic analysis seems to be a theoretical construct for something like the interpretation and analysis of containerized cargo in such an economy.The effective level of emissions elimination exists where even the potential profit of removing exposure is equivalent to the marginal price of removing emission (several other contaminations may be authorized).
Because Toyota's investment eventually increases the level of R&D spending for his given level of sales revenue what would the effect on Toyota's return on invested capital (ROIC)?
Available Options Are:
a. Increasing ROIC by increasing return on sales
b. Decreasing ROIC by increasing return on sales
c. Decreasing ROIC by decreasing return on sales
d. Increasing ROIC by decreasing return on sales
Answer:
Option C. Decreasing ROIC by decreasing return on sales
Explanation:
The return on sales would be reduced as the research expenses have increased substantially. The implications of increased research expenses on the ROIC can be understood by analyzing the ROIC formula which is given as under:
ROCI = Operating Income (1 - Tax Rate) / Book Value of Invested Capital
As revenue expenditure (Research and Development expenses) of the company has increased, this would decrease the operating income of the company which means that the numerator would be decreased and as a result the ROIC would decrease.
According to the dividend growth model, an increase in which of the following will increase the current value of a stock all other things equal? I. dividend amount II. discount rate III. dividend growth rate
Answer: (1.) Dividend amount (111.) Dividend growth rate
Explanation:
The divided growth model is defined by the relation:
Po = D1 / (r - g)
Where Po = current price of stock
r = discount rate and g = growth rate of the stock
D1 = Next year's Dividend
From the Gordon model; The price of stock is directly proportional to the Dividend amount, therefore, an increase in Dividend amount will result in current value of stock and vice versa.
Since the current value of stock increases as Dividend amount increases, therefore an increase in the growth rate of the Dividend will also favor increase in the current value of stock.
Based on the dividend growth model, when the following are increased, the value of the stock would increase:
I. dividend amount III. dividend growth rateThe dividend growth model is calculated as:
Value of stock = Dividend / ( Discount rate - Growth rate)
For the value of stock to be high, the numerator will have to increase or the denominator will have to decrease.
Increasing the dividend would increase the numerator and increasing the growth rate would decrease the denominator, both of which would increase stock value.
In conclusion, increasing dividend amount and growth rate will increase the value of stock.
Find out more at https://brainly.com/question/14299565.
Firm A has preferred stock outstanding that pays a dividend of $9.50. Firm B has preferred stock outstanding that pays a dividend of $4.50. Given this information, the price of Firm A is _________________.
Answer: At least $5 lower than the price of Firm B
Explanation:
A preferred stock is a stock whereby the holder of the stock is entitled to a dividend which is usually fixed.
From the question, we are informed that Firm A has preferred stock outstanding that pays a dividend of $9.50 while Firm B has preferred stock outstanding that pays a dividend of $4.50.
With the information provided above, the price of Firm A is at least ($9.50 - $4.50) = $5 lower than the price of Firm B.
Q 9.42: A plant asset was purchased on January 1 for $80,000 with an estimated salvage value of $20,000 at the end of its useful life. The current year's Depreciation Expense is $10,000 calculated on the straight-line basis and the balance of the Accumulated Depreciation account at the end of the year is $20,000. The remaining useful life of the plant asset is ________ years.
Answer:
4 years
Explanation:
For calculation of remaining useful life of the plant asset first we need to find out the Straight Line Depreciation (annual), useful life and life end which is shown below:-
Straight Line Depreciation (annual) = (Cost – Salvage Value) ÷ Useful Life
$10,000 = ($80,000 - $20,000) ÷ Useful Life
$10,000 × Useful Life = $80,000 - $20,000
Useful Life = ($80,000 - $20,000) ÷ $10,000
Useful Life = 6 years
Life ended = Accumulated Depreciation ÷ Annual Depreciation
= $20,000 ÷ $10,000
= 2 years
Remaining Useful Life = Useful life - Life ended
= 6 years - 2 years
= 4 years
Scientists have modified feed corn genetically, increasing its resistance to insect pests. Farmers who tried out the genetically modified corn last season applied less insecticide to their corn fields and still got yields comparable to those they would have gotten with ordinary corn. Ordinary corn seed, however, costs less, and what these farmers saved on insecticide rarely exceeded their extra costs for seed. Therefore, for most feed-corn farmers, switching to genetically modified seed would be unlikely to increase profits.
Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?
(A) Whether there are insect pests that sometimes reduce feed-corn yields, but against which commonly used insecticides and the genetic modification are equally ineffective
(B) Whether the price that farmers receive for feed corn has remained steady over the past few years
(C) Whether the insecticides typically used on feed corn tend to be more expensive than insecticides typically used on other crops
(D) Whether most of the farmers who tried the genetically modified corn last season applied more insecticide than was actually necessary
(E) Whether, for most farmers who plant feed corn, it is their most profitable crop
Answer:
D) Whether most of the farmers who tried the genetically modified corn last season applied more insecticide than was actually necessary
Explanation:
In order to evaluate this argument, we must first determine the cost equation for corn farmers:
profit = revenue from corn - total costs of producing corn
the total costs of producing corn include coth the price of seeds and pesticide.
Since the price of the seeds is much higher, it can only be offset if the amount of pesticide used was lower. But did the farmers that participated in the research study used the correct amount of pesticide during the last years would be crucial to determining the real impact of the new genetically modified seeds. If the farmers used too much pesticide in the previous years just in case, would mean that the actual use of pesticide should have been less and the costs increase when using the new seeds.