Which financial element is corrected by making an adjusting entry?

Making an adjusting entry primarily corrects the timing of when revenues and expenses are recognized in the accounting records, especially in accordance with the revenue recognition principle and the matching principle. This ensures that income is reported in the period it is earned, and expenses are reported in the period they are incurred, rather than when cash transactions happen.

Adjusting entries are typically necessary for items such as accrued revenues, deferred revenues, accrued expenses, and deferred expenses. Therefore, by adjusting entries, a company can better reflect its true financial position, which aligns with the revenue recognition principle and influences overall financial reporting accuracy.

The other options do not directly address the fundamental purpose of adjusting entries. While financial ratios are influenced by the adjustments made to revenues and expenses, they are not themselves corrected through adjusting entries. The accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity) is overall maintained, but adjusting entries specifically target the nuances of revenue and expense timing within that framework. Cash balances reflect actual cash flow and may not necessarily need adjustment entries unless bound by accrual accounting discrepancies.