Management of Childers Corporation Is Considering Whether to Purchase a New

question 113

Multiple Choice

Management of Childers Corporation is considering whether to purchase a new model 380 machine costing $278,000 or a new model 230 machine costing $207,000 to replace a machine that was purchased 3 years ago for $266,000. The old machine was used to make product R16K until it broke down last week. Unfortunately, the old machine cannot be repaired. Management has decided to buy the new model 230 machine. It has less capacity than the new model 380 machine, but its capacity is sufficient to continue making product R16K.
Management also considered, but rejected, the alternative of simply dropping product R16K. If that were done, instead of investing $207,000 in the new machine, the money could be invested in a project that would return a total of $305,000.
In making the decision to invest in the model 230 machine, the opportunity cost was:

• A)$278,000
• B)$305,000
• C)$207,000
• D)$266,000

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Definitions:

Utility

A measure of satisfaction or happiness that a consumer derives from consuming goods or services.

Disutility

The negative utility or dissatisfaction experienced by consumers from consuming a good or engaging in an activity.

Marginal Disutility

The added dissatisfaction a consumer experiences from consuming an additional unit of a product or service.

Behavioral Economics

A field of economics that examines how psychological, social, cognitive, and emotional factors affect economic decisions of individuals and institutions.