Spartan Castings must implement a manufacturing pro- cess that reduces the amount of particulates emitted into the atmosphere. Two processes have been identified that provide the same level of particulate reduction. The first process is expected to incur $350,000 of fixed cost and add $50 of variable cost to each casting Spartan produces. The second process has fixed costs of $150,000 and adds $90 of variable cost per casting.
a. What is the break-even quantity beyond which the first process is more attractive?
b. What is the difference in total cost if the quantity pro- duced is 10,000?