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8.5: Break-Even Point

  • Page ID
    45895
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    Learning Outcomes

    • Define the break-even point

    How many apples does Farmer Joe need to sell to break even?

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "Break Even Point - easily explained!"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: http://pb.libretexts.org/afm-2/?p=346

    The break even point can be defined as the exact point where sales-expenses = zero. So essentially, you are not making money, but you are not losing money either. This is the point where selling one less item would create a loss and selling one more item would create a profit situation. There are two methods we can use to figure out our break even point:

    1. The equation method
    2. The formula method

    We will discuss both methods in detail, but let’s start with a new company and a new product! The widgets are starting to get boring. Whether we are talking about apples, widgets or kayaks, the process is the same.

    The Minnesota Kayak Company has come to you to help them determine the break even point on a new line of racing kayaks they plan to introduce to the market. These are some pricy kayaks and they want to insure that the use of their manufacturing facility will make sense for this new line.

    Are you ready to get busy?

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