High-Low Cost Estimation

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liberty_bell_fitness.docx

Liberty Bell Fitness, Inc. operates a chain of fitness centers in Philadelphia. The firm’s controller is accumulating data to be used in preparing its annual profit plan for the coming year. The cost behavior pattern of the firm’s equipment maintenance costs must be determined. The accounting staff has suggested the use of an equation, in the form of Y = a + bX, for maintenance costs. Data regarding the maintenance hours and costs for last year are as follows:

 

Month

Hours of Maintenance Service

Maintenance Costs

  January

 

525

 

$

4,710

 

  February

 

505

 

 

4,310

 

  March

 

310

 

 

2,990

 

  April

 

495

 

 

4,200

 

  May

 

315

 

 

3,000

 

  June

 

485

 

 

4,215

 

  July

 

315

 

 

2,950

 

  August

 

405

 

 

3,680

 

  September

 

475

 

 

4,100

 

  October

 

345

 

 

3,250

 

  November

 

350

 

 

3,260

 

  December

 

335

 

 

3,015

 

 

  Total

 

4,860

 

$

43,680

 

  

  Average

 

405

 

$

3,640

 

1.

Using the high-low method of cost estimation, estimate the behavior of the maintenance costs incurred  by Liberty Bell Fitness, Inc. Express the cost behavior pattern in equation form.

 

 

Monthly Maintenance Cost =_______________+_________________x

3.

Compute the predicted maintenance cost at 600 hours of activity.

Compute the variable cost per hour and the fixed cost per hour at 610 hours of activity. (Round "Fixed cost per hour" to 2 decimal places.)

 

 

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