Medium2 marksMultiple Choice
Budgeting and ControlVariance AnalysisPerformance InterpretationSyllabus Area D
This question is part of a case study — click to read the full scenario(Case 21)

Section B - Case 2: Verdant Yields

Verdant Yields produces organic liquid fertilizer by blending two materials: Nitrogen-rich (N) and Phosphorus-rich (P).

Standard data to produce 10 liters of fertilizer:
Material N: 8 liters at $5 per liter
Material P: 4 liters at $10 per liter
(Total standard input = 12 liters. Standard cost = $80).

Actual data for the month:
Output produced: 950 liters of fertilizer.
Material N purchased and used: 840 liters at $4.80 per liter.
Material P purchased and used: 360 liters at $10.50 per liter.

What is the Total Material Price Variance for the month?

ACCA · Question 24 · Budgeting and Control

Section B - Case 2: Verdant Yields

The production manager at Verdant Yields is reviewing the variances. The Mix Variance is Favorable, but the Yield Variance is Adverse.

Which TWO of the following are valid interpretations of this combination of variances?

Answer options:

A.

The manager substituted the more expensive Material P with the cheaper Material N.

B.

The cheaper material mix resulted in greater wastage or evaporation during the blending process.

C.

The purchasing department negotiated better prices for both materials.

D.

The production team worked faster than the standard time allowed.

How to approach this question

Connect the math to the real world. A favorable mix means using more of the cheap stuff. An adverse yield means you didn't get as much final product as expected. How are these related?

Full Answer

A favorable mix variance occurs when a higher proportion of cheaper materials (Material N) is used relative to expensive materials (Material P). However, altering the standard recipe often degrades the quality or efficiency of the process, leading to higher wastage or lower output per unit of input, which causes an adverse yield variance. These two variances are highly interdependent.

Common mistakes

Failing to link the behavioral cause (changing the recipe) to the physical effect (lower yield).

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