Solutions to end-of-chapter problems

Engineering Economy, 7th edition

Leland Blank and Anthony Tarquin

Chapter 1
Foundations of Engineering Economy
1.1 The four elements are cash flows, time of occurrence of cash flows, interest rates, and
measure of economic worth.

1.2 (a) Capital funds are money used to finance projects. It is usually limited in the amount
of money available.

(b) Sensitivity analysis is a procedure that involves changing various estimates to see if/how
they affect the economic decision.

1.3 Any of the following are measures of worth: present worth, future worth, annual worth, rate
of return, benefit/cost ratio, capitalized cost, payback period, economic value added.

1.4 First cost: economic; leadership: non-economic; taxes: economic; salvage value: economic;
morale: non-economic; dependability: non-economic; inflation: economic; profit: economic;
acceptance: non-economic; ethics: non-economic; interest rate: economic.

1.5 Many sections could be identified. Some are: I.b; II.2.a and b; III.9.a and b.

1.6 Example actions are:

• Try to talk them out of doing it now, explaining it is stealing
• Try to get them to pay for their drinks
• Pay for all the drinks himself
• Walk away and not associate with them again

1.7 This is structured to be a discussion question; many responses are acceptable. It is an

ethical question, but also a guilt-related situation. He can justify the result as an accident; he
can feel justified by the legal fault and punishment he receives; he can get angry because it
WAS an accident; he can become tormented over time due to the stress caused by accidently
causing a child’s death.

1.8 This is structured to be a discussion question; many responses are acceptable. Responses
can vary from the ethical (stating the truth and accepting the consequences) to unethical
(continuing to deceive himself and the instructor and devise some on-the-spot excuse).

Lessons can be learned from the experience. A few of them are:

• Think before he cheats again.
• Think about the longer-term consequences of unethical decisions.
• Face ethical-dilemma situations honestly and make better decisions in real time.

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 Alternatively, Claude may learn nothing from the experience and continue his unethical
practices.

1.9 i = [(3,885,000 - 3,500,000)/3,500,000]*100% = 11% per year

1.10 (a) Amount paid first four years = 900,000(0.12) = $108,000

(b) Final payment = 900,000 + 900,000(0.12) = $1,008,000

1.11 i = (1125/12,500)*100 = 9%
i = (6160/56,000)*100 = 11%
i = (7600/95,000)*100 = 8%

The $56,000 investment has the highest rate of return.

1.12 Interest on loan = 23,800(0.10) = $2,380

Default insurance = 23,800(0.05) = $1190
Set-up fee = $300

Total amount paid = 2380 + 1190 + 300 = $3870

Effective interest rate = (3870/23,800)*100 = 16.3%

1.13 The market interest rate is usually 3 – 4 % above the expected inflation rate. Therefore,

Market rate is in the range 3 + 8 to 4 + 8 = 11 to 12% per year

1.14 PW = present worth; PV = present value; NPV = net present value; DCF = discounted cash
flow; and CC = capitalized cost

1.15 P = $150,000; F = ?; i = 11%; n = 7

1.16 P = ?; F = $100,000; i = 12%; n = 2

1.17 P = $3.4 million; A = ?; i = 10%; n = 8

1.18 F = ?; A = $100,000 + $125,000?; i = 15%; n = 3

1.19 End-of-period convention means that all cash flows are assumed to take place at the end of
the interest period in which they occur.

1.20 fuel cost: outflow; pension plan contributions: outflow; passenger fares: inflow;
maintenance: outflow; freight revenue: inflow; cargo revenue: inflow; extra bag charges:
Inflow; water and sodas: outflow; advertising: outflow; landing fees: outflow; seat
preference fees: inflow.

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1.21 End-of-period amount for June = 50 + 70 + 120 + 20 = $260
End-of-period amount for Dec = 150 + 90 + 40 + 110 = $390

1.22 Month Receipts, $1000 Disbursements, $1000 Net CF, $1000

Jan 500 300 +200
Feb 800 500 +300
Mar 200 400 -200
Apr 120 400 -280
May 600 500 +100
June 900 600 +300
July 800 300 +500
Aug 700 300 +400
Sept 900 500 +400
Oct 500 400 +100
Nov 400 400 0
Dec 1800 700 +1100

Net Cash flow = $2,920 ($2,920,000)

1.23

1.24

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1.25

1.26 Amount now = F = 100,000 + 100,000(0.15) = $115,000

1.27 Equivalent present amount = 1,000,000/(1 + 0.15)

= $869,565

Discount = 790,000 – 869,565

= $79,565

1.28 5000(40 )(1 + i) = 225,000

1 + i = 1.125
i = 0.125 = 12.5% per year

1.29 Total bonus next year = 8,000 + 8,000(1.08)

= $16,640

1.30 (a) Early-bird payment = 10,000 – 10,000(0.10) = $9000

(b) Equivalent future amount = 9000(1 + 0.10) = $9900

Savings = 10,000 – 9900 = $100

1.31 F1 = 1,000,000 + 1,000,000(0.10)

= 1,100,000

F2 = 1,100,000 + 1,100,000(0.10)
= $1,210,000

1.32 90,000 = 60,000 + 60,000(5)(i)

300,000 i = 30,000
i = 0.10 (10% per year)

1.33 (a) F = 1,800,000(1 + 0.10) (1 + 0.10) = $2,178,000

(b) Interest = 2,178,000 – 1,800,000 = $378,000

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1.34 F = 6,000,000(1 + 0.09) (1 + 0.09) (1 + 0.09)
= $7,770,174

1.35 4,600,000 = P(1 + 0.10)(1 + 0.10)

P = $3,801,653

1.36 86,400 = 50,000(1 + 0.20)n

log (86,400/50,000) = n(log 1.20)
0.23754 = 0.07918n
n = 3 years

1.37 Simple: F = 10,000 + 10,000(3)(0.10)

= $13,000

Compound: 13,000 = 10,000(1 + i) (1 + i) (1 + i)

(1 + i)3 = 1.3000
3log(1 + i) = log 1.3
3log (1 + i) = 0.1139
log(1 + i) = 0.03798
1 + i = 1.091
i = 9.1% per year

1.38 Minimum attractive rate of return is also referred to as hurdle rate, cutoff rate, benchmark
rate, and minimum acceptable rate of return.

1.39 bonds - debt; stock sales – equity; retained earnings – equity; venture capital – debt; short
term loan – debt; capital advance from friend – debt; cash on hand – equity; credit card –
debt; home equity loan - debt.

1.40 WACC = 0.30(8%) + 0.70(13%) = 11.5%

1.41 WACC = 10%(0.09) + 90%(0.16) = 15.3%

The company should undertake the inventory, technology, and warehouse projects.

1.42 (a) PV(i%,n,A,F) finds the present value P

(b) FV(i%,n,A,P) finds the future value F
(c) RATE(n,A,P,F) finds the compound interest rate i
(d) IRR(first_cell:last_cell) finds the compound interest rate i
(e) PMT(i%,n,P,F) finds the equal periodic payment A
(f) NPER(i%,A,P,F) finds the number of periods n

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1.43 (a) NPER(8%,-1500,8000,2000):
(b) FV(6%,10,2000,-9000):
(c) RATE(10,1000,-12000,2000):
(d) PMT(11%,20,,14000):
(e) PV(8%,15,-1000,800):
i = 8%; A = $-1500; P = $8000; F = $2000; n = ?
i = 6%; n = 10; A = $2000; P = $-9000; F = ?
n = 10; A = $1000; P = $-12,000; F = $2000; i = ?
i = 11%; n = 20; F = $14,000; A = ?
i = 8%; n = 15; A = $-1000; F = $800; P = ?

1.44 (a) PMT is A (b) FV is F (c) NPER is n (d) PV is P (e) IRR is i

1.45 (a) For built-in functions, a parameter that does not apply can be left blank when
it is not an interior one. For example, if there is no F involved when using the PMT
function to solve a particular problem, it can be left blank (omitted) because it is an end
parameter.
(b) When the parameter involved is an interior one (like P in the PMT function),
a comma must be put in its position.

1.46 Spreadsheet shows relations only in cell reference format. Cell E10 will indicate $64 more
than cell C10.

1.47 Answer is (b)

1.48 Answer is (d)

1.49 Answer is (a)

1.50 Answer is (d)

1.51 Upper limit = (12,300 – 10,700)/10,700 = 15%

Lower limit = (10,700 – 8,900)/10,700 = 16.8%

Answer is (c)

1.52 Amount one year ago = 10,000/(1 + 0.10) = $9090.90

Answer is (b)

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1.53 Answer is (c)

1.54 2P = P + P(n)(0.04)
1 = 0.04n
n = 25

Answer is (b)

1.55 Answer is (a)

1.56 WACC = 0.70(16%) + 0.30(12%)

= 14,8%

Answer is (c)

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 Solution to Case Studies, Chapter 1

There is no definitive answer to case study exercises. The following are examples only.

Renewable Energy Sources for Electricity Generation

3. LEC approximation uses (1.05)11 = 0.5847, X = P11 + A11 + C11 and LEC last year = 0.1022.

X(0.5847)
0.1027 = 0.1022 + ----------------------
(5.052 B)(0.5847)

X = $2.526 million

Refrigerator Shells
1. The first four steps are: Define objective, information collection, alternative definition and
estimates, and criteria for decision-making.

Objective: Select the most economic alternative that also meets requirements such as
production rate, quality specifications, manufacturability for design specifications, etc.

Information: Each alternative must have estimates for life (likely 10 years), AOC and other
costs (e.g., training), first cost, any salvage value, and the MARR. The debt versus equity
capital question must be addressed, especially if more than $5 million is needed.

Alternatives: For both A and B, some of the required data to perform an analysis are:
P and S must be estimated.
AOC equal to about 8% of P must be verified.
Training and other cost estimates (annual, periodic, one-time) must be
finalized.
Confirm n = 10 years for life of A and B.
MARR will probably be in the 15% to 18% per year range.

Criteria: Can use either present worth or annual worth to select between A and B.

2. Consider these and others like them:

Debt capital availability and cost
Competition and size of market share required
Employee safety of plastics used in processing

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3. With the addition of C, this is now a make/buy decision. Economic estimates needed are:

 Cost of lease arrangement or unit cost, whatever is quoted.

 Amount and length of time the arrangement is available.

Some non-economic factors may be:

 Guarantee of available time as needed.

 Compatibility with current equipment and designs.
 Readiness of the company to enter the market now versus later