General Motors Company disclosed estimated product warranty payable for comparative years as follows:

GM's sales were $135,311 million in 2010 and increased to $148,866 million in 2011.
Assume that the total paid on warranty claims during 2011 was $4,000 million.
a. Why are short- and long-term estimated warranty liabilities separately disclosed?
b. Provide the journal entry for the 2011 product warranty expense.

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in millions) 12/31/11 12/31/10 Current policy, product warranty, and recal campaigns Noncurrent policy, product warranty, and recall campaigns Total $3,061 3.539 $6,600 $2,587 ,202 $6,789