AICPA Exam CPA-Business Topic 3 Question 8 Discussion

Choice 'c' is correct. A shortcut computation for operating leverage is the ratio of fixed costs to variable costs. If total cost is $100,000 and variable cost is 40% of total costs (or $40,000), then fixed costs must be 60% (or $60,000). Operating leverage is then calculated as follows:

$60,000/$40,000 = 1.5

Choice 'a' is incorrect. .4 is obtained by dividing $100,000 into the variable cost of $40,000.

Choice 'b' is incorrect. .6 is obtained by dividing total costs into fixed costs.

Choice 'd' is incorrect. 2.5 is obtained by dividing total costs by variable costs.