Building Supplies Is Considering a Merger with Tools and More

Building Supplies is considering a merger with Tools and More. Building's total operating costs of producing services are $4 million for a sales volume of $20 million. Tools' total operating costs of producing services are $1 million for a sales volume of $5 million. Suppose that synergies in the production process result in a cost of production for the merged firms totalling $4.8 million with total sales remaining unchanged. Calculate the total average cost for the merged firm.

A) 9.6 percent
B) 40.0 percent
C) 19.2 percent
D) 20.0 percent