At a seminar, a cost accountant spoke on identification of different kinds of cost behavior

3-B1 Identifying Cost Behavior Patterns

At a seminar, a cost accountant spoke on identification of different kinds of cost behavior. Tammy Li, a hospital administrator who heard the lecture, identified several hospital costs of concern to her. After her classification, Li presented you with the following list of costs and asked you to (1) classify their behavior as one of the following: variable, step, mixed, discretionary fixed, committed fixed, and (2) to identify a likely cost driver for each variable or mixed cost.

1. Operating costs of X-ray equipment ($95,000 a year plus $3 per film)
2. Health insurance for all full-time employees
3. Costs incurred by Dr. Rath in cancer research
4. Repairs made on hospital furniture
5. Training costs of an administrative resident
6. Straight-line depreciation of operating room equipment
7. Costs of services of King Hospital Consulting
8. Nursing supervisors’ salaries (a supervisor is needed for each 45 nursing personnel)

Click here for the solution: At a seminar, a cost accountant spoke on identification of different kinds of cost behavior

Patrick Ross, the president of Ross's Wild Game Company, has asked for information about the cost behavior of manufacturing overhead costs

Patrick Ross, the president of Ross's Wild Game Company, has asked for information about the cost behavior of manufacturing overhead costs. Specifically, he wants to know how much overhead cost is fixed and how much is variable. The following data are the only records available:

Month Machine-hours Overhead Costs
February 1,700 $20,500
March 2,800 22,250
April 1,000 19,950
May 2,500 21,500
June 3,500 23,950

Using the high-low method, determine the overhead cost equation. Use machine-hours as your cost driver.

Click here for the solution: Patrick Ross, the president of Ross's Wild Game Company, has asked for information about the cost behavior of manufacturing overhead costs