Keppel Manufacturing had a bad year in 2012, operating at a loss for the first time in its history. The company€™s income statement showed the following results from selling 200,000 units of product: net sales $2,000,000; total costs and expenses $2,120,000; and net loss $120,000. Costs and expenses consisted of the following.

Management is considering the following independent alternatives for 2013.
1. Increase unit selling price 30% with no change in costs and expenses.
2. Change the compensation of salespersons from fixed annual salaries totaling $170,000 to total salaries of $50,000 plus a 6% commission on net sales.
3. Purchase new high-tech factory machinery that will change the proportion between variable and fixed cost of goods sold to 40:60.

Instructions
(a) Compute the break-even point in dollars for 2012.
(b) Compute the break-even point in dollars under each of the alternative courses of action. Which course of action do you recommend? (Round to the nearestdollar.)

Variable $1,295,000 $975,000 325,000 100,000 $2,120,000 $1,400,000 Total Cost of goods sold Selling expenses Administrative expenses Fixed $320,000 250,000 150,000 $720,000 575,000