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What is the main advantage of a corporation being legally separate from its owners?
What is the main advantage of a corporation being legally separate from its owners?
What type of business is owned by two or more persons?
What type of business is owned by two or more persons?
Which of the following is an example of a financing activity?
Which of the following is an example of a financing activity?
What represents the owners' claims to a company's resources?
What represents the owners' claims to a company's resources?
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What is recognized when a company sells products or provides services to customers?
What is recognized when a company sells products or provides services to customers?
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What type of business activity involves the primary operations of the company?
What type of business activity involves the primary operations of the company?
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What is an example of an investing activity?
What is an example of an investing activity?
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What are the two primary characteristics of accounting information that make it useful for decision making?
What are the two primary characteristics of accounting information that make it useful for decision making?
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Which assumption states that the life of a company can be divided into artificial time periods for periodic reporting?
Which assumption states that the life of a company can be divided into artificial time periods for periodic reporting?
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What is one of the underlying assumptions of GAAP?
What is one of the underlying assumptions of GAAP?
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What is the assumption that allows companies to report their financial performance and position at regular intervals?
What is the assumption that allows companies to report their financial performance and position at regular intervals?
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Which of the following is NOT an underlying assumption of GAAP?
Which of the following is NOT an underlying assumption of GAAP?
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What is the assumption that recognizes that a company will continue to operate for the foreseeable future?
What is the assumption that recognizes that a company will continue to operate for the foreseeable future?
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What is the primary unit of measurement in accounting?
What is the primary unit of measurement in accounting?
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What are the four underlying assumptions of GAAP?
What are the four underlying assumptions of GAAP?
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What are the two main functions of financial accounting?
What are the two main functions of financial accounting?
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What type of accounting information is provided to external users?
What type of accounting information is provided to external users?
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Which of the following is NOT a function of financial accounting?
Which of the following is NOT a function of financial accounting?
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What is the primary purpose of financial accounting?
What is the primary purpose of financial accounting?
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Which of the following is an example of an external user of financial accounting information?
Which of the following is an example of an external user of financial accounting information?
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Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of financial accounting?
Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of financial accounting?
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What is the total amount of common stock issued?
What is the total amount of common stock issued?
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What is the relationship between financial accounting and decision-making?
What is the relationship between financial accounting and decision-making?
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What is the net income for the period?
What is the net income for the period?
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Who are the primary users of financial accounting information?
Who are the primary users of financial accounting information?
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What is the ending balance of retained earnings?
What is the ending balance of retained earnings?
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What is the purpose of a balance sheet?
What is the purpose of a balance sheet?
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What is the accounting equation that summarizes the balance sheet?
What is the accounting equation that summarizes the balance sheet?
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What are the two main categories of claims to resources?
What are the two main categories of claims to resources?
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What are resources controlled by a company?
What are resources controlled by a company?
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What is the role of dividends in the accounting equation?
What is the role of dividends in the accounting equation?
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What is the primary responsibility of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)?
What is the primary responsibility of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)?
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Which body governs the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)?
Which body governs the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)?
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Which of the following is NOT a user of financial accounting information?
Which of the following is NOT a user of financial accounting information?
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What does GAAP stand for?
What does GAAP stand for?
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Which organization is responsible for establishing international accounting standards?
Which organization is responsible for establishing international accounting standards?
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Why is it important for financial accounting information to be based on formal standards?
Why is it important for financial accounting information to be based on formal standards?
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Who primarily uses financial accounting information to make decisions?
Who primarily uses financial accounting information to make decisions?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)?
Which of the following is a characteristic of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)?
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Study Notes
Financial Accounting
- Financial accounting provides accounting information to external users for decision-making purposes, thereby enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions about investments, lending, and other business transactions.
- The two primary functions of financial accounting are:
- To measure business activities of a company, which involves identifying, recording, and reporting transactions that occur within the organization, as well as identifying and reporting the financial position and performance of the company.
- To communicate those measurements to external parties, such as investors, creditors, regulators, and other interested parties, through the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
Business Structures
- A corporation is a company that is legally separate from its owners, offering limited liability to stockholders, which means that the personal assets of the stockholders are not at risk in the event of business failure or debt, ensuring that investors are protected and can make informed investment decisions.
- A sole proprietorship is a business owned by one person, with no limited liability, meaning that the owner's personal assets are at risk in the event of business failure or debt, making it a high-risk, high-reward arrangement.
- A partnership is a business owned by two or more persons, with no limited liability, meaning that the personal assets of each partner are at risk in the event of business failure or debt, making it a moderate-risk, moderate-reward arrangement.
Business Activities
- Financing activities involve transactions with investors and creditors, such as issuing stocks or bonds, borrowing money, and repaying loans, which are essential for the survival and growth of the company.
- Investing activities involve transactions involving the purchase and sale of resources that benefit the company for several years, such as purchasing property, equipment, or investments, which are critical for the company's ability to generate revenue and maintain its operations.
- Operating activities relate to the primary operations of the company, such as producing and selling goods or services, which generate revenue and determine the company's financial performance.
Assets, Liabilities, and Stockholders' Equity
- Assets represent a company's resources, which can be classified as current or non-current, tangible or intangible, and can include cash, inventory, property, equipment, and investments, amongst others.
- Liabilities represent creditors' claims to resources, which can be classified as current or non-current, and can include accounts payable, notes payable, and long-term debt, amongst others.
- Stockholders' equity represents owners' claims to resources, which can be classified as common stock, preferred stock, and retained earnings, amongst others, and represents the residual interest in the company's assets after deducting its liabilities.
- The accounting equation illustrates the fundamental model of business valuation: Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders' Equity, which provides a framework for analyzing a company's financial position and performance.
Revenues, Expenses, and Dividends
- Revenues are recognized when a company sells products or provides services to customers, which generate cash inflows and increase a company's financial performance.
- Expenses are the costs incurred to generate revenues, which reduce a company's financial performance and increase its costs.
- Dividends are distributions of earnings to stockholders, which represent a return on investment and provide stockholders with a share of the company's profits.
Financial Statements
- The Balance Sheet presents the financial position of a company on a particular date, where Resources = Claims to Resources, providing a snapshot of the company's financial position at a specific point in time.
- Financial position is represented by the equation: Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders
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Description
This quiz is based on the first chapter of Financial Accounting, Fifth Edition, by Spiceland, Thomas, and Herrmann. It covers the framework for financial accounting.
