Let S represent the amount of steel produced (in tons). Steel production is related to the amount of labor used (L) and the amount of capital used (C) by the following function: S = 15 L0.2 C 0.8 In this formula L represents the units of labor input and C the units of capital input. Each unit of labor costs $50, and each unit of capital costs $100. (a) Formulate an optimization problem that will determine how much labor and capital are needed in order to produce 50,000 tons of steel at minimum cost. Min L + C L0.2 C 0.8 L, C (b) Solve the optimization problem you formulated in part a. Hint: When using Excel Solver, start with an initial L > 0 and C > 0. If required, round your answers to two decimal places. L = $ C = $ Cost = $

Activity-based costing (abc) is not truly a cost collection mechanism as much as it is an inventory valuation method. the main purpose for implementing an activity-based cost system is to try to overcome some of the cost distortions that occur in traditional costing from product differences when there are variations in size and complexity. however, one of the disadvantages of utilizing abc is that the additional information gathering necessary to implement costing with that level of detail might be beyond the reach of some companies with resource or financial constraints. with this in mind, what kinds of industries or companies do you think would benefit most from using activity-based costing and why? in designing or modifying an accounting system to capture appropriate costs for abc, what considerations do you think would need to be made?