The Merriam Company Has Determined That Its Return on Equity

question 9

Multiple Choice

The Merriam Company has determined that its return on equity is 15 percent. Management is interested in the various components that went into this calculation. You are given the following information: total debt/total assets = 0.35 and total assets turnover = 2.8. What is the profit margin?

• A) 3.48%
• B) 5.42%
• C) 6.96%
• D) 2.45%
• E) 12.82%

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Definitions:

Mixed Cost

Expenses that have both fixed and variable components, changing in total with the level of activity but also containing a constant element.

Least-squares Regression

A statistical technique that identifies the most accurate line of fit by reducing the total of the squared differences between the actual and forecasted values.

Mixed Cost

Expenses that contain both fixed and variable components, changing with the level of output or activity.

High-low Method

A technique used in managerial accounting to estimate variable and fixed cost components of a cost formula, using the highest and lowest levels of activity.