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ACCA Applied Knowledge · Management Accounting · Summarising and analysing data

Quarterly sales (000) of Alder Co were: Q1 120, Q2 150, Q3 130, Q4 140. Which of the following is the cumulative frequency-style running total (a Z chart's cumulative line) at the end of Q3, and the moving annual total at the end of Q4 if the previous year's total was 520?

The cumulative total at the end of Q3 is 400 and the moving annual total at the end of Q4 is 540. Cumulative is 120+150+130, and at year end the moving annual total covers the four latest quarters, which sum to 540.

  1. ACumulative 400; moving annual total 540Correct
  2. BCumulative 280; moving annual total 540
  3. CCumulative 400; moving annual total 520
  4. DCumulative 280; moving annual total 560

Explanation

Cumulative to end of Q3 = 120+150+130 = 400. At the end of Q4 the moving annual total covers the latest four quarters, which is the current year Q1 to Q4 = 120+150+130+140 = 540. The 520 option wrongly uses the previous year's total; 280 is only Q1+Q2+... error in cumulating.

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