VAR-485 commuter bus company uses two measures of activity, routes and commuters, in the cost formulas in its budgets and performance reports. The cost formula for bus operating costs is $56,890 per month plus $2,888 per route plus $17 per commuter. The company expected its activity in November to be 89 routes and 258 commuters, but the actual activity was 98 routes and 263 commuters. The actual cost for bus operating costs in November was $305,100. The spending variance for bus operating costs in November would be closest to:

Suppose you win a small lottery and have the choice of two ways to be paid: you can accept the money in a lump sum or in a series of payments over time. if you pick the lump sum, you get $2,950 today. if you pick payments over time, you get three payments: $1,000 today, $1,000 1 year from today, and $1,000 2 years from today. 1) at an interest rate of 6% per year, the winner would be better off accepting the (lump sum / payments over time), since it has the greater present value. 2) at an interest rate of 9% per year, the winner would be better off accepting the (lump sum / payments over time), since it has the greater present value. 3) years after you win the lottery, a friend in another country calls to ask your advice. by wild coincidence, she has just won another lottery with the same payout schemes. she must make a quick decision about whether to collect her money under the lump sum or the payments over time. what is the best advice to give your friend? a) the lump sum is always better. b) the payments over time are always better. c) it will depend on the interest rate; advise her to get a calculator. d) none of these answers is good advice.