Sea Star Company manufactures diving masks with a variable cost of $12.50. The masks sell for $ 17.00. Budgeted fixed manufacturing overhead for the most recent year was $396,000. Actual production was equal to planned production.

Required:
Under each of the following conditions, state
(a) Whether operating income is higher under variable or absorption costing
(b) The amount of the difference in reported operating income under the two methods. Treat each condition as an independent case.
1. Production......................................... 110,000 units
Sales ................................................. 107,000 units
2. Production......................................... 88,000 units
Sales ................................................. 93,000 units
3. Production......................................... 80,100 units
Sales ................................................. 80,100 units