Herschel Inc. (Herschel) is a small chain of convenience stores. Herschel classifies its inventory into three categories: perishable items, packaged goods, and household items. On its balance sheet and income statement, Herschel doesn't break down its inventory, sales, and cost of sales into the three categories.
For its years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, Herschel reported inventory of $671,000 and $873,500 respectively. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017,
Herschel reported sales of $7,013,000 and cost of sales of $5,575,000. However, the following breakdown of inventory, sales, and cost of sales has been made available to you:

Required:
a. Calculate the gross margin percentage, inventory turnover ratio, and the average number of days inventory on hand for the year ended December 31, 2017 using the aggregated amounts reported for inventory, sales, and cost of sales on Herschel's balance sheet and income statement.
b. Calculate the gross margin percentage, inventory turnover ratio, and the average number of days inventory on hand for the year ended December 31, 2017 for each category of inventory that Herschel carries.
c. What are the implications of the results you obtained in parts (a) and (b)? How is your ability to analyze Herschel affected by the aggregated information presented in the company's balance sheet and income statement versus the information that was made available to you? Explainfully.

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Inventory Sales for the year ended Dec. 31,2017 $2,375,000 Cost of sales for Inventory balance on Dec. 31, 2016 Dec. 31, 2017 balance orn the year ended Category Perishable items Dec. 31, 2017 S42,500 306,000 525,000 S2,000,000 1,650,000 1,925,000 S50,000 Packaged goods 183,500 Household items 2,013,000 2,625,000 437,500