Building Supplies is considering a merger with Tools and More. Building's total operating costs of producing services are $4 million for a sales volume of $20 million. Tools' total operating costs of producing services are $1 million for a sales volume of $5 million. Suppose that synergies in the production process result in a cost of production for the merged firms totalling $4.8 million with total sales remaining unchanged. Calculate the total average cost for the merged firm.

We generally calculate total average cost by dividing total cost / total output units.

In this case, we are not given the output units, but instead we are given the output value, so we should find a percentage from total revenue.

total costs = $4,800,000

total revenue = $20,000,000 + $5,000,000 = $25,000,000

average total cost = ($4,800,000 / $25,000,000) x 100 = 19.2%

This means that for every $100 of revenue, the merged company will spend $19.20.

a) both were commissioned explorers