Business - 4BS1 PearsonEdexcel

Costs And Break-even Analysis

Overview

Every business needs to know how much it costs to operate and how many units it must sell before it starts making a profit. Getting these numbers wrong can mean running out of cash long before a single customer walks through the door.

In this lesson you will learn the difference between fixed and variable costs, calculate total cost and average cost, and master break-even analysis - the tool that tells a business exactly when revenue catches up with costs. These skills appear regularly on both Edexcel papers, often as structured calculation questions worth several marks.

Objectives

  1. Understand the concept and calculate revenue, fixed and variable costs, total costs, profit and loss
  2. Understand the concept of break-even and calculate break-even level of output from formula or diagram
  3. Interpret break-even charts: the impact of changes in revenue and costs, limitations of break-even charts

Lesson Note

A street-food vendor pays rent on a market stall whether she sells ten burritos or two hundred. The flour, beans and wrapping, on the other hand, cost more the more she sells. Understanding which costs move with output and which stay put is the first step to working out whether a business idea can actually make money.

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Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Costs And Break-even Analysis. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

  1. Which of the following is a fixed cost? A) Raw materials B) Packaging C) Rent D) Piece-rate wages Answer: C
  2. A business has fixed costs of GBP 10 000 and sells its product for GBP 20 with a variable cost of GBP 12. What is the break-even output? A) 500 units B) 833 units C) 1 000 units D) 1 250 units Answer: D
  3. Contribution per unit is calculated as: A) Total revenue minus total cost B) Selling price minus variable cost per unit C) Fixed costs divided by output D) Total cost divided by output Answer: B
  4. If a business currently sells 2 000 units and the break-even output is 1 400, what is the margin of safety? A) 1 400 units B) 3 400 units C) 600 units D) 2 000 units Answer: C
  5. Which of the following is a limitation of break-even analysis? A) It is difficult to calculate B) It assumes all output is sold C) It cannot be shown on a chart D) It ignores fixed costs Answer: B

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
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Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Available on the Green Bridge App

Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.

Full lesson notes with diagrams
AI-powered learning assistant
Study offline, anytime, anywhere
Available on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux

Practice Mock Questions

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