Companies incur two types of production costs: variable costs and fixed costs. Variable costs vary based on the amount of output produced.
Variable costs may include labor, commissions, and raw materials.
Fixed costs remain the same regardless of production output.
Fixed costs may include lease and rental payments, insurance, and interest payments.

Self-interest achieve society’s economic goals because producers know which goods consumers want the most. as consumers and producers exercise their freedom to act in their own self-interest, markets will produce the desired goods at the lowest possible cost. consumers and producers both operate based on society’s economic goals. consumers know which goods can be produced at the lowest cost. there is a wide variety of desired goods and services in a market system because producers determine what to produce. consumers change their minds frequently. there is always a need to produce something new and improved. individual wants are diverse. what is produced is ultimately determined by consumers, because if the goods offered are not what consumers want, consumers will not buy them. producers, because they are driven by profits. producers, because they determine what to produce. consumers, because they participate in marketing surveys.

University car wash built a deluxe car wash across the street from campus. the new machines cost $219,000 including installation. the company estimates that the equipment will have a residual value of $19,500. university car wash also estimates it will use the machine for six years or about 12,500 total hours. actual use per year was as follows: year hours used 1 3,100 2 1,100 3 1,200 4 2,800 5 2,600 6 1,200 prepare a depreciation schedule for six years using the following methods: 1. straight-line. 2. double-declining-balance. 3. activity-based.

An investment offers a total return of 18 percent over the coming year. janice yellen thinks the total real return on this investment will be only 14 percent. what does janice believe the inflation rate will be over the next year?