Mountain Dental Services is a specialized dental practice whose only service is filling cavities. Mountain has recorded the following for the past nine months:Month Number of Cavities Filled Total CostJanuary 375 $5,300February 500 5,850March 350 5,200April 600 6,250May 325 5,150June 475 5,700July 525 6,100August 575 6,300September 450 5,550Required:1. Use the high-low method to estimate total fixed cost and variable cost per cavity filled. 2. Using these estimates, calculate Mountain's total cost for filling 400 cavities.

Instructions are listed below

Explanation:

Giving the following information:

The high-low method involves taking the highest level of activity and the lowest level of activity and comparing the total costs at each level.

Mountain has recorded the following for the past nine months:

January:

Number of Cavities = 375

Total cost = $5,300

February:

Number of Cavities 500

TC = 5,850

March

Number of Cavities 350

TC = 5,200

April

Number of Cavities 600

TC=6,250

May

Number of Cavities 325

TC = 5,150

June

Number of Cavities 475

TC = 5,700

July

Number of Cavities 525

TC = 6,100

August

Number of Cavities 575

TC = 6,300

September

Number of Cavities 450

TC = 5,550

A) Variable cost = (Highest activity cost - lowest activity cost) / (Highest activity units - lowest activity units)

Variable cost = (6300 - 5150) / (600 - 325) = 4.18 per unit

Fixed cost = HACost - (variable cost per unit * HAUnits) = 6300 - (4.18*600) = 3792

Fixed cost = LACost - (variable cost per unit * LAUnits) = 5150 - (4.18*325) = 3792

B) Q = 400

Total cost = 3792 + 4.18*400 = $5464