Solar Hydro manufactures a revolutionary aeration system that combines coarse and fine bubble aeration components. This year (year 1) the cost for check valve components is $9,000. Based on closure of a new contract with a distributor in China and volume discounts, the company expects this cost to decrease. If the cost in year 2 and each year thereafter decreases by $560, what is the equivalent annual cost for a 5-year period at an interest rate of 10% per year?

A maker of mechanical systems can reduce product recalls by 25% if it purchases new packaging equipment. The cost of the new equipment is expected to be $40,000 four years from now. How much could the company afford to spend now, instead of 4 years from now, if it uses a minimum attractive rate of return of 12% per year?

A supermarket can purchase an automated checkout machine for $100,000 (to be paid in year 0) that has an estimated life of 5 years. Servicing and maintenance over that period will begin at $2,500 per annum ( at the end of year 1) and increase at a 10% rate every year. If the checkout machine is purchased, the supermarket will not be required to hire one additional checkout operator. The checkout operator costs $28,000 per year (assume this is also at the end of each year beginning with year 1), and this amount is expected to increase at 5% annually. If the supermarket’s cost of capital is 10%, which alternative should be selected. Assume all annual cashflows occur at the end of each year.

The cost for manufacturing a component used in intelligent interface converters was $23,000 the first year. The company expects the cost to increase by 2% each year. Calculate the present worth of this cost over a five-year period at an interest rate of 10% per year.