an important application of regression analysis in accounting is in the estimation of cost. by collecting data on volume and cost and using the least squares method to develop an estimated regression equation relating volume and cost, an accountant can estimate the cost associated with a particular manufacturing volume. consider the following sample of production volumes and total cost data for a manufacturing operation.

The manda panda company uses the allowance method to account for bad debts. at the beginning of 2018, the allowance account had a credit balance of $92,400. credit sales for 2018 totaled $3,190,000 and the year-end accounts receivable balance was $507,500. during this year, $88,500 in receivables were determined to be uncollectible. manda panda anticipates that 3% of all credit sales will ultimately become uncollectible. the fiscal year ends on december 31. required: 1. does this situation describe a loss contingency? 2. what is the bad debt expense that manda panda should report in its 2018 income statement? 3. prepare the appropriate journal entry to record the contingency. 4. complete the table below to calculate the net realizable value manda panda should report in its 2018 balance sheet?