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02 Apr 2011, 06:09
Kudos
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If profits are down 20%, and costs are up 10%, how do we know sales must be down 10%?
This is just one part of a larger case interview question but I just can't figure it out. I'd think the ratio of new revenues to new costs should factor into the calculation but I've run into this in a mock interview and a case that I read online, and both times they assumed this was a very simple calculation that was independent of the actual costs and revenues. Can anyone explain why?
This is just one part of a larger case interview question but I just can't figure it out. I'd think the ratio of new revenues to new costs should factor into the calculation but I've run into this in a mock interview and a case that I read online, and both times they assumed this was a very simple calculation that was independent of the actual costs and revenues. Can anyone explain why?
03 Apr 2011, 23:31
Kudos
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I don't think you can come to the conclusion that sales MUST be down 10%... there is a piece of information missing here. I'm thinking the margin, and maybe the equation they are working with... I am assuming you are working with the very basic equation of:
Profits = Sales - Cost
Lets try thinking this out loud:
profits = sales - cost
lets say profits last period were 100. Sales 200, Cost 100.
profits down 20% = profits 80 in current period.
Costs up 10% = costs 110 in current period.
X = Sales
80 = X - 110
X = 190 = Sales
That looks like 5% to me...
but look at this scenario:
Profit = Sales - Costs
100 = 1000 - 900
80 = X - 990
X = 1070, Sales go up 7% here.....
but what do I know... derp...
Profits = Sales - Cost
Lets try thinking this out loud:
profits = sales - cost
lets say profits last period were 100. Sales 200, Cost 100.
profits down 20% = profits 80 in current period.
Costs up 10% = costs 110 in current period.
X = Sales
80 = X - 110
X = 190 = Sales
That looks like 5% to me...
but look at this scenario:
Profit = Sales - Costs
100 = 1000 - 900
80 = X - 990
X = 1070, Sales go up 7% here.....
but what do I know... derp...
04 Apr 2011, 11:08
Kudos
Bookmarks
Taking a preschool approach, its sounds like someone is saying 20% of profits have disappeared, we know that 10% of it is attributable to higher costs, therefore the other 10% must be attributable to lower sales since that's the remaining variable in play.
But if it's phrased as posted, then you guys are correct that there is missing information. As posted, the mathematics do not produce a constant.
But if it's phrased as posted, then you guys are correct that there is missing information. As posted, the mathematics do not produce a constant.
