Exercise 20.1: Accounting Meaning
Listed below are nine technical accounting terms introduced in this chapter:
Variable costs Relevant range Contribution margin
Break-even point Fixed costs Semivariable costs
Economies of scale Sales mix Unit contribution margin
Each of the following statements may (or may not) describe one of these technical terms. For each
statement, indicate the accounting term described, or answer “None” if the statement does not correctly
describe any of the terms.
a. The level of sales at which revenue exactly equals costs and expenses.
b. Costs that remain unchanged despite changes in sales volume.
c. The span over which output is likely to vary and assumptions about cost behavior generally
remain valid.
d. Sales revenue less variable costs and expenses.
e. Unit sales price minus variable cost per unit.
f. The reduction in unit cost achieved from a higher level of output.
g. Costs that respond to changes in sales volume by less than a proportionate amount.
h. Operating income less variable costs.
