Question & Answer

George and Wanda received $30,200 of Social Security benefits this year ($12,000 for George; $18,200 for Wanda). They also received $5,000 of interest from jointly owned City of Ranburne Bonds and dividend income. What amount of the Social Security benefits must George and Wanda include in their gross income under the following independent situations?

If market interest rates are expected to decline over time, will a savings institution with rate-sensitive liabilities and a large amount of fixed-rate mortgages perform best by (a) using an interest rate swap, (b) selling financial futures, or (c) remaining unhedged? Explain. (LO4)

An L-shaped part is to be bent in a V-bending operation on a press brake from a flat blank 4.0 in by 1.5 in that is 5/32 in thick. The bend of 90° is to be made in the middle of the 4-in length. (a) Determine the dimensions of the two equal sides that will result after the bend, if the bend radius = 3/16 in. For convenience, these sides should be measured to the beginning of the bend radius. (b) Also, determine the length of the part's neutral axis after the bend. (c) Where should the machine operator set the stop on the press brake relative to the starting length of the part?

For the steel ring of preceding Problem 11.10(b), determine the volume of molten metal that must be poured into the mold, given that the liquid shrinkage is 0.5%, solidification shrinkage = 3%, and solid contraction after freezing = 7.2%

1.       During times of significant organizational change, such as downsizing or a pandemic, the grapevine becomes more active as anxious employees share organizational news and rumors. As a manager, what communication strategies would you employ during a time of uncertainty in the workplace? What are the advantages and disadvantages of gossip during a time of uncertainty?

The pension fund manager of Utterback (a U.S. firm) purchased German 20-year Treasury bonds instead of U.S. 20-year Treasury bonds. The coupon rate was 2 percentage points lower on the German bonds. Assume that the manager sold the bonds after five years. The yield over the five-year period was substantially more than the yield the manager would have received on the U.S. bonds over the same five-year period. Explain how the German bonds could have generated a higher yield than the U.S. bonds for the manager, even if the exchange rate was stable over this five-year period. (Assume that the price of either bond was initially equal to its respective par value). Be specific. (LO2, LO5)

with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is one of the largest producers, transporters, distributors, and marketers of natural gas in North America. Periodically, the company experiences a decrease in the value of its gas- and oil-producing properties,and a special charge to income was recorded in order to reduce the carrying value of those assets. Assume the following information. In 2013, CNG estimated the cash inflows from its oil- and gasproducing properties to be $375,000 per year. During 2014, the write-downs described above caused the estimate to be decreased to $275,000 per year. Production costs (cash outflows) associated with all these properties were estimated to be $125,000 per year in 2013, but this amount was revised to $155,000 per year in 2014. Instructions (Assume that all cash flows occur at the end of the year.) (a) Calculate the present value of net cash flows for 2013–2015 (three years), using the 2013 estimates and a 10% discount factor. (b) Calculate the present value of net cash flows for 2014–2016 (three years), using the 2014 estimates and a 10% discount factor. (c) Compare the results using the two estimates. Is information on future cash flows from oil- and gasproducing properties useful, considering that the estimates must be revised each year? Explain.

Assume that breaking news causes bond portfolio managers to suddenly expect much higher economic growth. How might bond prices be affected by this expectation? Explain. Now assume that breaking news causes bond portfolio managers to suddenly anticipate a recession. How might bond prices be affected? Explain. (LO2)

How will the composition of aggregate demand at point c\" and a\" in Figure 21.12(c) differ?

Hawkins Corporation has the following balances at December 31, 2014. Projected benefi t obligation $2,600,000 Plan assets at fair value 2,000,000 Accumulated OCI (PSC) 1,100,000 How should these balances be reported on Hawkins’s balance sheet at December 31, 2014?

Based on the analysis in Figure 21.13, what would an impulse response function look like for the rate of inflation?

Human occupations have been lost as a result of technological advancements throughout history. Do you believe that the advancements in fintech will have a comparable effect on employment, leading to the replacement of human jobs with intelligent robots and software? (LO1, LO4)

Compare the secondary market activity for mortgages to the activity for other capital market instruments (such as stocks and bonds). Provide a general explanation for the difference in the activity level. (LO4)

Describe the differences between mass production and custom production of goods and services. Explain how these differences influence the costing method.

Differentiate between the direct method and the indirect method by discussing each method.

A critic recently stated that the creation of credit default swaps caused the credit crisis in the 2008–2009 period. Write a short essay that supports or refutes this statement.

Congress would like to increase tax revenues by 10 percent.  Assume that the average taxpayer in the United States earns $65,000 and pays an average tax rate of 15 percent.  If the income effect is in effect for all taxpayers, what average tax rate will result in a 10 percent increase in tax revenues?  This is an example of what type of forecasting?

The information below pertains to Barkley Company for 2015. Net income for the year $1,200,000 7% convertible bonds issued at par ($1,000 per bond); each bond is convertible into 30 shares of common stock 2,000,000 6% convertible, cumulative preferred stock, $100 par value; each share is convertible into 3 shares of common stock 4,000,000 Common stock, $10 par value 6,000,000 Tax rate for 2015 40% Average market price of common stock $25 per share There were no changes during 2015 in the number of common shares, preferred shares, or convertible bonds outstanding. There is no treasury stock. The company also has common stock options (granted in a prior year) to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock at $20 per share. Instructions (a) Compute basic earnings per share for 2015. (b) Compute diluted earnings per share for 2015.

Frank paid $3,700 in fees for an accountant to tabulate business information (Frank operates as a self-employed contractor and files a Schedule C). The accountant also spent time tabulating Frank’s income from his investments and determining Frank’s personal itemized deductions. Explain to Frank whether or not he can deduct the $3,700 as a business expense or as an itemized deduction, and provide a citation to an authority that supports your conclusion.

Offer an argument for why the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, could have placed downward pressure on U.S. interest rates. Offer an argument for why those attacks could have placed upward pressure on U.S. interest rates. (LO1, LO2)

} Rashaun (62 years old) retired and planned on immediately receiving distributions (making withdrawals) from his traditional IRA account. The balance of his IRA account is $160,000 (before reducing it for withdrawals ∕ distributions described below). Over the years, Rashaun has contributed $40,000 to the IRA. Of his $40,000 contributions, $30,000 was nondeductible and $10,000 was deductible. Assume Rashaun did not make any contributions to the account during the year. a. If Rashaun currently withdraws $20,000 from the IRA, how much tax will he be required to pay on the withdrawal if his marginal tax rate is 24 percent? b. If Rashaun currently withdraws $70,000 from the IRA, how much tax will he be required to pay on the withdrawal if his marginal tax rate is 28 percent? c. Using the information provided in part (b), complete Form 8606, part I, to report the taxable portion of the $70,000 distribution (withdrawal). Use the most current form available.

Listed below are various types of accounting changes and errors. ______ 1. Change in a plant asset’s salvage value. ______ 2. Change due to overstatement of inventory. ______ 3. Change from sum-of-the-years’-digits to straight-line method of depreciation. ______ 4. Change from presenting unconsolidated to consolidated financial statements. ______ 5. Change from LIFO to FIFO inventory method. ______ 6. Change in the rate used to compute warranty costs. ______ 7. Change from an unacceptable accounting principle to an acceptable accounting principle. ______ 8. Change in a patent’s amortization period. ______ 9. Change from completed-contract to percentage-of-completion method on construction contracts. ______ 10. Change from FIFO to average-cost inventory method. Instructions For each change or error, indicate how it would be accounted for using the following code letters: (a) Accounted for prospectively. (b) Accounted for retrospectively. (c) Neither of the above.

Mask Company has 30,000 shares of $10 par value common stock authorized and 20,000 shares issued and outstanding. On August 15, 2014, Mask purchased 1,000 shares of treasury stock for $18 per share. Mask uses the cost method to account for treasury stock. On September 14, 2014, Mask sold 500 shares of the treasury stock for $20 per share. In October 2014, Mask declared and distributed 1,950 shares as a stock dividend from unissued shares when the market price of the common stock was $21 per share. On December 20, 2014, Mask declared a $1 per share cash dividend, payable on January 10, 2015, to shareholders of record on December 31, 2014. Instructions (a) How should Mask account for the purchase and sale of the treasury stock, and how should the treasury stock be presented in the balance sheet at December 31, 2014? (b) How should Mask account for the stock dividend, and how would it affect the stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2014? Why? (c) How should Mask account for the cash dividend, and how would it affect the balance sheet at December 31, 2014? Why?

If countries are so keen to reduce the barriers to trade, why do many countries frequently attempt to erect barriers?

The records of Ellen’s Boutique report the following data for the month of April. Sales revenue $99,000 Purchases (at cost) $48,000 Sales returns 2,000 Purchases (at sales price) 88,000 Markups 10,000 Purchase returns (at cost) 2,000 Markup cancellations 1,500 Purchase returns (at sales price) 3,000 Markdowns 9,300 Beginning inventory (at cost) 30,000 Markdown cancellations 2,800 Beginning inventory (at sales price) 46,500 Freight on purchases 2,400 Instructions Compute the ending inventory by the conventional retail inventory method.