(Product line) Johnson Metal Products produces three products: wire, tubing, and sheet metal. The company is currently contemplating the elimination of the tubing product line because it is showing a pretax loss. An annual income statement follows:

Sheet

Wire

Tubing

Metal

Total

Sales

$ 2,200

$ 1,600

$ 1,800

$ 5,600

Cost of sales

(1,400)

(1,000)

(1,080)

(3,480)

Gross margin

$ 800

$ 600

$ 720

$ 2,120

Avoidable fixed and variable costs

$ 630

$ 725

$ 520

$ 1,875

Allocated fixed costs

90

80

105

275

Total fixed costs

$ 720

$ 805

$ 625

$ 2,150

Operating profit

$ 80

$ (205)

$ 95

$ (30)

a. Should corporate management drop the tubing product line? Support your answer with appropriate schedules.

b. How would the pretax profit of the company be affected by the decision?