Types of Costs by Behavior
Cost behavior refers to the way different types of production costs change when there is a change in level of production.
There are three main types of costs according to their behavior:
Fixed Costs:
Fixed costs are those which do not change with the level of activity within the relevant range. These costs will incur even if no units are produced. For example rent expense, straight-line depreciation expense, etc.
Fixed cost per unit decreases with increase in production. Following example explains this fact:
Total Fixed Cost | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | ÷ Units Produced | 5,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 | Fixed Cost per Unit | $6.00 | $3.00 | $2.00 |
Variable Costs:
Variable costs change in direct
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at highest level of activity; and x1 are the number of units/labor hours etc. at lowest level of activity
In other words, variable cost per unit is equal to the slope of the cost volume line (i.e. change in total cost ÷ change in number of units produced).
Total Fixed Cost
Total fixed cost (a) is calculated using the following formula: Total Fixed Cost = y2 − bx2 = y1 − bx1 |
High-Low Method Example
Company α wants to construct a cost volume relation between its factory overhead cost and number of units produced. Use the high-low method to analyze its factory overhead (FOH) costs and build a cost volume formula. The volume and the corresponding total cost information of the factory for past eight months are given below:
Month | Units | FOH | 1 | 1,520 | $36,375 | 2 | 1,250 | 38,000 | 3 | 1,750 | 41,750 | 4 | 1,600 | 42,360 | 5 | 2,350 | 55,080 | 6 | 2,100 | 48,100 | 7 | 3,000 | 59,000 | 8 | 2,750 | 56,800 |
Solution:
We have, x2 = 3,000 y2 = $59,000 x1 = 1,250 y1 = $38,000
Variable Cost per Unit = ( $59,000 − $38,000 ) ÷ ( 3,000 − 1,250 ) = $12 per unit
Total Fixed Cost = $59,000 − ( $12 × 3,000 ) = $38,000 − ( $12 × 1,250 ) = $23,000
Cost Volume Formula: y = $23,000 + 12x
Scatter Graph Method
Scatter graph method is a graphical technique of separating fixed and
The Law of diminishing returns states that if one factor of production is increased while the others remain constant, the overall returns will relatively decrease after a certain point. The total fixed cost is the same regardless of the output; the total variable costs will change with the level of output resulting in the total cost as the sum of the fixed cost and variable cost at each level of output. Over the 0 to 4 range of output, the TVC and TC curves slope upward. They reflect a decreasing rate due to the increasing minor returns. The slopes curves will increase due to these diminishing marginal returns.
Total cost = (F * T/Q) + (H * Q / 2) = (80 * 200,000 / 10,000) + (1.00 * 10,000/2)
QUESTION 5: Kai decides to keep his price the same and add color, increasing variable costs by $0.40 per issue. What is the percent increase in unit volume (copies per issue) required to maintain $500 profits and cover the increased fixed and variable
Unit contribution = Unit Price – Unit Variable Cost = $1.80 – $1.40 = $0.40
Martinez Company’s relevant range of Production is 7,500 to 12,500 units. When it produces and sells 10,000 units, its unit costs are as follows:
Birth Company normally produces and sells 30,000 units of RG-6 each month. RG-6 is a small electrical relay used as a component part in the automotive industry. The selling price is $ 22 per unit, variable costs are $ 14 per unit. Fixed manufacturing overhead costs total $ 1, 50,000 per month, and fixed selling costs total $ 30,000 per month.
3. Computation of unit costs. (Round Cost per unit to 2 decimal places. Omit the "$" sign in your
22. Variable costs ________. A. are fixed per unit and vary in total B. are fixed in
1- The total unit cost = Total Variable Cost + Production Fixed Expenses + Advertising Expense + Selling and Administrative Expense = 3.23 + 1.20 + 0.30 + 0.19 = 4.92.
Variable costs apply at a per unit basis, only the behavior of the variable per unit cost is different. For example, if supplies for a one lab test cost $10, the variable cost per test remains constant. Although the cost of the test remains the same, the total costs associated with the test will increase or decrease in relation with the volume of tests at the hospital.
Under a traditional system, overhead cost is allocated to an activity based on hours or rates for direct labor or machine usage. However, this approach does not clearly indicate how much overhead cost will be needed in order to complete a job through a particular function. ABC methodology is to be used as an alternative to traditional accounting where a business 's overhead costs (indirect costs such as electrical energy consumption for heating or cooling, or indirect cost associated with marketing) are allocated as a proportion of direct costs, to an activity. This approach is unsatisfactory because there can be cases where two activities could absorb the same direct costs
On the other hand, fixed costs remain constant with little regard to the level of production being realized. A good example of fixed costs is rent. Of course there are exceptions, but whether or not a company is using the full capacity of the facility it is renting, the rent will still become due. However, a positive characteristic of fixed costs is that they usually remain constant; and so everything that
The computation of equivalent units under FIFO method differs from weighted average method in two ways. First the units transferred out figure are divided into two parts. One part consists of the units from beginning inventory that were completed and transferred out, and the other part consists of the units that were both started and completed during the current period. Second full consideration is given to the amount of work expended during the current period on units in the beginning work in process inventory as well as units the ending inventory. Thus, under the FIFO method, it is necessary to convert both beginning and ending inventories to an equivalent unit basis. For the beginning inventory, the equivalent units represent the work done to complete the units; for the ending inventory, the equivalent units represent the work done to bring the units to a stage of partial completion at the end of the period (the same as with the weighted average method). The formula for computing equivalent units of production is more complex under FIFO method than under weighted average
Cost behaviour is the manner in which different costs respond to variations in volume or activity (Crosson, 2014). Effective cost control is impossible without proper understanding of cost behaviour. These costs could be variable, fixed, or mixed. Gouna Limited therefore needs to understand how certain costs behave in order to control them well for a positive outcome. Through the
For example, the cost of the factory will be the same regardless of the number of units produced within the factory. Notice here we are talking about the fixed cost in relation to the level of activity, if we produce one unit or 100 units the cost will remain the same, but that does not mean the cost will remain fixed from one year to the next as it may rise or fall over time due to inflation for instance. Add to that, per unit cost varies with the level of activity. If the volume of production increased, the fixed cost per unit decreases and vice versa when volume of production decreases, the fixed cost per unit increases. In other words, there is an inverse relation between the cost and the level of activity on a per unit basis which is known as economy of scale (a proportionate saving in costs gained by an increased level of production – Oxford