A car dealer leases a small computer with software for $5,000 per year. As an alterative he could buy the computer for $7,500 and lease the software for $3,500 per year. Any time he would decide to switch to some other computer he could cancel software lease and sell the computer for $500.
If he buys the computer nad leases the software, what is the payback period?
a. 3 years
b. 4 years
c. 5 years
d. 6 years
If he kept the computer and software for 8 years, what would be the benefit-cost ratio, based on a 5% interest rate.
a. 1.5
b. 1.4
c. 1.3
d. 1.2

Answer:

1. The payback period is:

= 3 years

2. The benefit-cost ratio is:

= 1.1

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

                                   Leasing Computer    Buying Computer &

                                        with Software       Leasing Software

Annual lease payment     $5,000                      $3,500

Cost of computer                                                $7,500

Salvage value of computer                                   $500

Usage period                       8 years                   8 years

Interest rate                         5%                           5%

Present value annuity factor 6.463                    6.463

Present value factor for salvage                        0.677

Present value of annuity    $32,315                $29,782 ($22,621 + $7,500 - 339)

$22,782 = ($3,500 * 6.463 + $7,500 - ($500 * 0.677))

Benefit-cost ratio = $32,315/$29,782 = 1.1

Examine a product that has recently changed prices when you were at the grocery store in the past week. Analyze one determinant of supply and demand that has created the price to increase or decrease in your example. How did the change in demand or supply affect the market price in your example