Answer:
$20,000
Explanation:
If the Rubber Division was dropped at the beginning of last year, the financial advantage (disadvantage) to the company for the year would have been: the segment's margin of $20,000
The president considering the elimination of this division is not advisable. As long as none of the allocated common corporate fixed costs could be avoided, If the Rubber Division was dropped at the beginning of last year, the financial disadvantage to the company for the year would have been it's contributed margin that went towards off-setting corporate fixed costs.
Furthermore, if this segment is closed, it would affect the Cork division because it would be reporting a lower net operating income of $90,000 as a result of bearing all the corporate costs alone.