g Sparky Corporation uses the FIFO method of process costing. The following information is available for February in its Molding Department: Units: Beginning Inventory: 25,000 units, 100% complete as to materials and 55% complete as to conversion. Units started and completed: 110,000. Units completed and transferred out: 135,000. Ending Inventory: 30,000 units, 100% complete as to materials and 30% complete as to conversion. Costs: Costs in beginning Work in Process - Direct Materials: $43,000. Costs in beginning Work in Process - Conversion: $48,850. Costs incurred in February - Direct Materials: $287,000. Costs incurred in February - Conversion: $599,150. Calculate the equivalent units of materials.

Equivalent units are used to apportion cost between completed units and work in progress. They represent notional whole units which represent incomplete work.

Under the first in first method , to account for completed units during a production period the opening inventory units are assumed to completed first before newly the newly introduced units.

So we can work out the equivalents units as follows:

Fully worked units :These represent units started this period of production and completed in the same period. This is given as 110,000 units

Equivalent units (EU)

Item unit Workings EU

Opening inventory 25,000 0% × 25,000 = 0

Fully worked 110,000 100% × 110,000 = 110,000

Closing inventory 30,000 100%× 30,000 = 30,000

Total equivalent unit of material 140,000

Note that for the opening inventory already 100% material work has been done the preceding period , so there wont be any work left to be done in respect of materials.