Suppose on January 1, 2016, Eastern Motors paid $430 million for a 30% investment in Tripp Motors. Assume Tripp earned net income of $80 million and declared and paid cash dividends of $40 million during 2016.
1. What method should Eastern Motors use to account for the investment in Tripp? Give your reason.
2. Journalize these three transactions on the books of Eastern Motors. Show all amounts in millions of dollars (rounded to the closest million), and include an explanation for each entry.
3. Post to the Equity-Method Investment T-account. What is its balance after all the transactions are posted?