a) A company operates from Monday to Friday. Sales data for the most recent three weeks as well as the moving total are as follows:

Day Sales Moving Total
Day 1 78
Day 2 83
Day 3 89 420
Day 4 85 430
Day 5 85 440
Day 6 88 450
Day 7 93 460
Day 8 99 470
Day 9 95 480
Day 10 95 490
Day 11 98 500
Day 12 103 510
Day 13 109 520
Day 14 105
Day 15 105

Required:
i) State the length of the cycle. (2 marks)
ii) Using the moving averages, establish the trend of the historical data above. (6 marks)
iii) Calculate the seasonal variation for each day of the week. (7 marks)

b) The value of variances as a control technique for management depends on the reliability and accuracy of the standard costs. If the standard costs are inaccurate, comparisons between actual cost and standard cost will have no meaning.

Required:
Explain TWO (2) factors to be considered by the purchasing department in estimating the direct material costs per unit of raw material. (5 marks)