Engineering Economy Review III 2010
Engineering Economy Review III 2010
1) (Prob. 4-2 Sullivan, 12th ed.) You are faced with making a decision on a large capital
investment proposal. The capital investment amount is $640,000. Estimated annual revenue at
the end of each year in the eight year study period is $180,000. The estimated annual year-end
expenses are $42,000 starting in year one. These expenses begin decreasing by $4,000 per
year at the end of year four and continue decreasing through the end of year eight. Assuming
a $20,000 market value at the end of year eight and a MARR = 12% per year, answer the
following questions.
a) What is the PW of this proposal?
b) What is the IRR of this proposal?
c) What is your conclusion about the acceptability of this proposal?
d) What is the simple payback period for this proposal?
e) Solve using FW, AW and discounted payback period.
Solution:
a) PW(12%) = -$640,000+$180,000(P/A,12%,8)-$42,000(P/A,12%,8)
+$4,000(P/G,12i%,6)(P/F,12%,2) +20,000(P/F,12i%,8)
PW (12%) = -$640,000+$180,000(4.9676)-$42,000(4.9676)
+$4,000(8.930) (0.7972) +20,000(0.4039)
= $82,082.78 > 0.
b) PW(IRR)= -$640,000+$180,000(P/A,i%,8)-$42,000(P/A,i%,8)
+$4,000(P/G,i%,6)(P/F,i%,2) +20,000(P/F,i%,8) = 0
Linear interpolation will be needed to solve for i%. We need two trial interest rates, one
resulting in a positive PW and another producing a negative PW. The IRR will then be
bracketed between these two interest rates. Since PW is not linear, the two interest rates
should be 10% or less apart to minimize error of linear interpolation. For this problem, the
two trial interest rates chosen were 15% and 18%.
i% PW
15% $9,790.06
i% 0.00
18% -$51,623.16
Solution:
3) Your company is considering the introduction of a new product line. The initial investment
required for this project is $500,000 and annual maintenance costs are anticipated to be
$35,000. Annual operating costs will be directly in proportion to the level of production at
$7.50 per unit, and each unit of product can be sold for $50.00. If the MARR is 10% and the
project has a life of 5 years, what is the minimum annual production level for which this
project is economically viable?
Solution:
Let X be the minimum annual production level.
AW = -500,000 (A/P,10%,5) – 35,000 – 7.50 X + 50.00 X = 0
500,000 (A/P,10%,5) + 35,000 = (50.00 – 7.50) X
166,898.74 = 42.50 X
X = 3,927.03 units
4) (Prob. 4-24 Sullivan, 12th ed.) Suppose that you borrow $1,000 from the Easy Credit
Company with the agreement to repay it over a 5-year period. Their stated interest rate is 9%
per year. They show you the following items in determining the monthly payment:
Principal $1,000
Total interest (9%*5 years*$1,000) $450
They ask you to pay 20% of the interest immediately, so you leave with $1,000–$90=$910 in
your pocket. Your monthly payment is calculated as follows:
Solution:
$910
End of Month
0 1 2 3 4 5 58 59 60
A = $24.17 / month
5) (Prob. 4-22 Sullivan, 12th ed.) A manufacturing firm which has excess capacity will make
a bid to produce a new product as a subcontractor at its factory. This requires an additional
investment of $75,000 in new equipment. The contract would be for 5 years at an annual
production quantity of 20,000 units. Direct labor cost is estimated at $1.00 per unit and new
materials at $1.05 per unit. The incremental overhead will not exceed 60% of its direct labor
cost. The maintenance expenses on the new equipment would be $2,000 per year, and annual
taxes and insurance would average 5% of the investment cost. The new equipment could be
sold for $3,000 at the end of 5 years. The project will require $15,000 in working capital at
the start of the project and it would be fully recovered at the end of year 5. The firm’s MARR
is 20% on this contract. The firm wants to sell the product at a price so that it can make a
profit of 20% of the selling price. What should be the selling price?
6) (Prob. 4-43 Sullivan, 12th ed.) Consider the following cash flow:
EOY 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Cash flow $ -100 -50 0 20 120 220 320
a) PW= -$100-$50(P/F,15%,1)+[$20(P/A,15%,4)+$100(P/G,15%,4)](P/F,15%,2)
= -$100 - $50(0.8696) + [$20(2.8550) + $100 (3.786)](0.7561)
= $185.95 > 0 Yes, this project is financially profitable.
Balance becomes positive at the end of year 5. Thus, payback period n' = 5 years.