The general journal is beneficial to accounting for several reasons, but among the options you've provided, the most pertinent benefits include:
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It is easy to determine whether debits and credits balance: The general journal records all transactions in chronological order and ensures that every entry has corresponding debits and credits, which helps maintain the accounting equation's balance.
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The financial statements can be completed from it: The general journal serves as the starting point for the accounting cycle. Information recorded in the journal is later posted to the ledger accounts, from which financial statements can ultimately be prepared.
While the other options, such as ensuring the dollar amount is correct and showing the balance of an account, are relevant to the overall accounting process, they are not direct benefits of the general journal itself. Instead, these functions are typically associated with the ledger and financial reporting process. Overall, the main benefits of the general journal are its role in ensuring balanced entries and serving as a source for financial statements.