During August, the first month of the fiscal year, sales totaled $875,000 and the cost of merchandise available for sale totaled $700,000. Estimate the cost of the merchandise inventory as of August 31, based on an estimated gross profit rate of 45%.
An oven with a book value of $67,000 has an estimated 5 year life. A proposal is offered to sell the oven for $8,500 and replace it with a new oven for $115,000. The new machine has a five year life with no residual value. The new machine would reduce annual maintenance costs by $23,000. Provide a differential analysis on the proposal to replace the machine.