Precision dyes is analyzing two machines to determine which one it should purchase. the company requires a rate of return of 14 percent and uses straight-line depreciation to a zero book value over the life of its equipment. machine a has a cost of $512,000, annual operating costs of $34,200, and a four-year life. machine b costs $798,000, has annual operating costs of $21,500, and has a six-year life. whichever machine is purchased will be replaced at the end of its useful life. the firm should purchase machine because it lowers the firm's annual costs by approximately as compared to the other machine.

He cheyenne hotel in big sky, montana, has accumulated records of the total electrical costs of the hotel and the number of occupancy-days over the last year. an occupancy-day represents a room rented out for one day. the hotel's business is highly seasonal, with peaks occurring during the ski season and in the summer. month occupancy- days electrical costs january 1,736 $ 4,127 february 1,904 $ 4,207 march 2,356 $ 5,083 april 960 $ 2,857 may 360 $ 1,871 june 744 $ 2,696 july 2,108 $ 4,670 august 2,406 $ 5,148 september 840 $ 2,691 october 124 $ 1,588 november 720 $ 2,454 december 1,364 $ 3,529 required: 1. using the high-low method, estimate the fixed cost of electricity per month and the variable cost of electricity per occupancy-day. (do not round your intermediate calculations. round your variable cost answer to 2 decimal places and fixed cost element answer to nearest whole dollar amount) 2. what other factors other than occupancy-days are likely to affect the variation in electrical costs from month to month? (you may select more than one answer. single click the box with the question mark to produce a check mark for a correct answer and double click the box with the question mark to empty the box for a wrong answer.) seasonal factors like winter or summer. systematic factors like guests, switching off fans and lights. number of days present in a month. fixed salary paid to hotel receptionist. income taxes paid on hotel income.