The correct answer is B. false.

Why “False” is the Correct Answer:

Gross profit is not always calculated as a percentage of the purchase price. Gross profit is a financial metric that represents the profit a company earns from its core business activities after deducting the cost of goods sold (COGS) from its revenue. The formula for calculating gross profit is:

$GrossProfit=Revenue-CostofGoodsSold(COGS)$

Here’s a detailed explanation of why “False” is the correct choice:

1. Gross Profit Calculation:

As mentioned earlier, gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of goods sold from the revenue generated by a company. The cost of goods sold includes all direct costs associated with producing or acquiring the goods that are sold by the company. This includes the cost of materials, labor, and overhead directly related to the production or purchase of the goods.

2. Not Based on Percentage of Purchase:

Gross profit is not inherently tied to a percentage of the purchase price of goods. Instead, it is an absolute dollar amount that reflects the difference between revenue and the specific costs incurred to produce or purchase the goods that were sold. The percentage relationship between gross profit and revenue may vary significantly from one company to another and across different industries.

3. Variability in Gross Profit Margin:

The gross profit margin, which is expressed as a percentage, is calculated by dividing gross profit by revenue and then multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage. The gross profit margin represents the portion of revenue that remains as gross profit after accounting for the cost of goods sold.

This margin can vary widely depending on the nature of the business, its industry, and its pricing strategy. There is no fixed percentage of the purchase price that universally defines gross profit.

4. Diverse Business Models:

Different businesses have different business models, and the calculation of gross profit reflects these variations. Some businesses may focus on high-volume, low-margin sales, while others may operate with lower volumes but higher profit margins. Therefore, the calculation of gross profit varies based on the specific cost structure and revenue generation strategy of each business.

Why the Other Options Are Not Correct:

A. True:

This option is not correct because it incorrectly asserts that gross profit must always be calculated as a percentage of the purchase price. As explained above, gross profit is calculated as an absolute dollar amount based on the difference between revenue and the cost of goods sold.

The percentage relationship (gross profit margin) between gross profit and revenue can vary widely and is not tied to a fixed percentage of the purchase price.

C. Either True or False:

This option is not correct because it suggests that the statement can be both true and false, depending on the context. However, the statement that gross profit must always be calculated as a percentage of the purchase price is fundamentally incorrect.

Gross profit is an absolute financial measure, and while it can be expressed as a percentage (gross profit margin), this percentage is not universally fixed but varies across businesses and industries.

D. May Be False:

This option is not correct because it implies that there is a possibility that the statement is true, which is not the case. The statement is unequivocally false because gross profit is not calculated as a percentage of the purchase price.

It is calculated as the difference between revenue and the cost of goods sold, reflecting the actual costs incurred in producing or acquiring the goods sold by a company.

In summary, gross profit is not calculated as a percentage of the purchase price; rather, it is an absolute financial measure representing the difference between revenue and the cost of goods sold.

The percentage relationship between gross profit and revenue (gross profit margin) can vary widely and is influenced by various factors, including a company’s cost structure and pricing strategy. Therefore, the statement that gross profit must always be calculated as a percentage of the purchase price is false.