Ratios Can Be Used for Different Purposes

question 71

Essay

Ratios can be used for different purposes. For example, a variety of ratios have been developed to assess a firm's liquidity. Similarly, ratios have been developed to assess solvency, profitability, and stock market strength. A sample of commonly used ratios for these purposes is provided in the table below.
Required:
In the middle column of the table, provide the formula to compute the specified ratio. In the final column, indicate the purpose (Liquidity, Solvency, Profitability, and Stock market strength) for which the ratio is most commonly used. The first item is completed as an example.

Understand and apply depreciation methods including Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) for tax purposes.

Analyze the impact of sales changes on working capital components.

Recognize the influence of biases and estimation errors on capital budgeting decisions.

Understand terminal value calculation and its implications on capital budgeting.

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Definitions:

Adjusting Journal Entry

An entry in accounting that is made at the end of an accounting period to record any unrecognized income or expenses for the period.

Asset

An item of value owned by an individual or corporation that is expected to provide future economic benefits.

Adjusting Entry

A journal entry made in accounting records to update the book values of certain assets or liabilities to their correct amounts.

Principal

The original sum of money borrowed in a loan or the initial amount of investment before any earnings or interest is added.