During the taking of its physical inventory on December 31, Barry's Bike Shop incorrectly counted its inventory as $222,138.00 instead of the correct amount of $184,409.00. The effect on the balance sheet and income statement would be:______.
a. assets overstated by $52,094.00; retained earnings understated by $52,094.00; and net income statement understated by $52,094.00.
b. assets overstated by $223,182.00; retained earnings understated by $171,088.00; and no effect on the income statement.
c. assets, retained earnings, and net income all overstated by $52,094.00.
d. assets and retained earnings overstated by $171,088.00; and net income understated by $223,182.00.

since the ending inventory was overstated by $222,138 - $184,409 = $37,729, it means that cost of goods sold was understated by that same amount. Since COGS were less, that resulted in higher operating income and net income.

Merchandise inventory will be overstated by $37,729 (current asset), while retained earnings will also be overstated by $37,729 since net income increases retained earnings.