D) Standard material = 2kg/unit at les/kg. Actual: 1000 units produced using 2,200kg but be 6/kg. i) Calculate Material price Variance ii) Compute Material usage variance iii) Analyze the causes of these Variance iv) Explain two benefits OF Standard costing.

Here's the solution to question 8.b): b) Given: Standard material = 2 kg/unit at Le 5/kg Actual production = 1,000 units Actual material used = 2,200 kg Actual price = Le 6/kg (implied from "but be 6/kg") i) Calculate materials price variance. Step 1: Determine the standard quantity for actual output. Standard Quantity for Actual Output (SQ) = Actual Output × Standard Quantity per unit SQ = 1,000 units × 2 kg/unit = 2,000 kg Step 2: Apply the formula for Materials Price Variance (MPV). MPV = (Standard Price (SP) - Actual Price (AP)) × Actual Quantity (AQ) Step 3: Substitute the values and calculate. MPV = (Le 5 - Le 6) × 2,200 kg MPV = (-Le 1) × 2,200 kg MPV = Le 2,200 Adverse ii) Compute material usage variance. Step 1: Apply the formula for Materials Usage Variance (MUV). MUV = (Standard Quantity for Actual Output (SQ) - Actual Quantity (AQ)) × Standard Price (SP) Step 2: Substitute the values and calculate. MUV = (2,000 kg - 2,200 kg) × Le 5 MUV = (-200 kg) × Le 5 MUV = Le 1,000 Adverse iii) Analyze the causes of these variances. • Materials Price Variance (Adverse): This adverse variance of Le 2,200 means the company paid more for materials than the standard price. Possible causes include an increase in the market price of materials, failure by the purchasing department to negotiate favorable prices, or purchasing higher quality (and thus more expensive) materials than planned. • Materials Usage Variance (Adverse): This adverse variance of Le 1,000 means the company used more materials than the standard quantity allowed for the actual output. Possible causes include poor quality of materials leading to increased waste, inefficient production processes, defective machinery causing spoilage, or lack of skilled labor resulting in excessive material usage. iv) Explain two benefits of standard costing. 1. Cost Control and Performance Evaluation: Standard costing provides a benchmark against which actual costs can be compared. This helps management identify areas where costs are out of control, investigate the reasons for variances, and evaluate the efficiency and performance of different departments or individuals. 2. Pricing Decisions: Standard costs provide a reliable basis for setting selling prices for products or services. By knowing the expected cost of production, businesses can quote competitive prices, prepare tenders, and make informed decisions about profitability. What's next?