P7- 1A: Variable and Absorption Costing Scott Manufacturing makes only one product with total unit manufacturing costs of $54, of which $36 is variable. No units were on hand at the beginning of 2015. During 2015 and 2016, the only product manufactured was sold for $84 per unit, and the cost structure did not change. Scott uses the first-in, first-out inventory method and has the following production and sales for 2015 and 2016:

Units Manufactured Units Sold

2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120,000 90,000

2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120,000 130,000

Required

a. Prepare gross profit computations for 2015 and 2016 using absorption costing.

b. Prepare gross profit computations for 2015 and 2016 using variable costing.

c. Explain how your answers illustrate the impact of differences between production and sales volumes on the gross profits reported each year under absorption and variable costing.