What is the effect of an increase in variable costs on the break-even point?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the effect of an increase in variable costs on the break-even point?
It decreases the break-even point
It has no effect on the break-even point
It increases the break-even point
It eliminates the break-even point
An increase in variable costs raises the break-even point because it reduces the contribution margin per unit.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the effect of an increase in variable costs on the break-even point?
Solution: An increase in variable costs raises the break-even point because it reduces the contribution margin per unit.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what variable costs are. Variable costs are expenses that change based on the amount of product you produce or sell.
Step 2: Know what the break-even point is. The break-even point is the number of units you need to sell to cover all your costs, meaning you make no profit or loss.
Step 3: Learn about contribution margin. Contribution margin is the amount of money you make from selling a product after subtracting variable costs. It is calculated as Selling Price - Variable Costs.
Step 4: Realize that if variable costs increase, the contribution margin decreases. This means you keep less money from each sale.
Step 5: Understand that a lower contribution margin means you need to sell more units to cover your fixed costs.
Step 6: Conclude that an increase in variable costs raises the break-even point because you need to sell more units to break even.