Quote:
SpeedTech Electronics manufactures two types of processors: a Standard Processor (SP) and a higher-priced Advanced Processor (AP). Producing AP is actually more cost-efficient than producing SP due to advancements in technology and manufacturing processes. However, financial analysts at SpeedTech have determined that the company's profits would decrease if it combined the two product lines, offering its customers only the AP product at the price level of SP.
Assuming that transitioning from SP to AP manufacturing incurs minimal costs, which of the following, if true about SpeedTech, best explains the results of the analysts' calculation?
A. The materials used in AP are more readily available and cheaper than those used in SP, which initially reduced manufacturing costs.
B. The production method for AP allows for faster output but the sale price for AP has traditionally been set higher due to perceived value.
C. The revenue generated from the higher-priced AP significantly exceeds the cost savings from its more efficient production compared to SP.
D. The research and development costs for developing AP were recouped quickly due to initial high interest when it was first launched.
E. While AP is more cost-effective to produce, it requires more frequent updates and enhancements than SP.
Background info: SpeedTech Electronics manufactures two types of processors, a Standard processor (SP) and a higher-priced Advanced processor (AP).
Fact 1: Due to tech and manufacturing advancements, it’s more cost effective for them to produce AP than SP.
Fact 2: SpeedTech financial analysts have determined that the company’s profits would decrease if it combined the two product lines and only offered AP at the price level of SP.
How can it be that AP costs less to produce than SP, but the company’s profits would still decrease if they stopped offering SP and started offering AP at the SP price?
A. This further explains Fact 1, which isn’t necessary.
B. This also seems to be elaborating on Fact 1 and explaining the background info on price structure, but we don’t need either explained.
C. This resolves the paradox. Say SP costs $5 to produce, and sells for $20, meaning a profit of $15/unit. AP costs $3 to produce and sells for $40, meaning a profit of $37/unit. If SpeedTech drops SP and starts selling AP at $20, they’d be making $17/unit, which is more than $15, but way less than $37.
D. Irrelevant. We’re not concerned with the past, but the future.
E. This could be tempting, but it’s not concrete enough to resolve the paradox. How much more often? How many more updates? What’s the cost associated with those things? Without that info, this choice doesn’t go far enough.
Best answer is C.