Section 5.

5 Case 2: Study Period ≠ Useful Life

Up until now, study periods and useful lives have been the same
length. The study period is frequently taken to be a common
multiple of the alternatives’ lives when study period ≠ useful life.
Repeatibility Assumption (page 211)
Conditions:
1. Study period is either indefinitely long or equal to a common
multiple of the lives of the alternative.
2. The cash flows associated with an alternative's initial life span
are representative of what will happen in succeeding life spans.

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Example – Problem 5-24a (pp. 236-237)
Cost Alternatives; Study Period > Useful Life; MARR = 15%
A B
Investment cost $14,000 $65,000
Annual costs 14,000 9,000
Useful life 5 20
Market value @ 8,000 13,000
end of useful life

a. If the study period = 20 years, which alternative is preferred?

Hint: First draw a cash flow diagram.

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Problem 5-24a (continued)

3
Problem 5-24a (continued)
PWA = -14,000 -6,000(P|F, 15, 5) -6,000(P|F, 15, 10)
-6,000(P|F, 15, 15) +8,000(P|F, 15, 20) -14,000(P|A,15,20)
= -$106,345

PW B = -65,000 - 9,000(P|A, 15, 20) + 13,000(P|F, 15, 20)

= -$120,539

Select A to minimize costs

Also,
AWA = -$106,345(A|P, 15, 20) = -$16,990
AWB = -$120,539(A|P, 15, 20) = -$19,262

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Consider the AW over the useful life of Alternative A:
AWA = -14,000(A|P, 15, 5)- 14,000 + 8,000(A|F, 15, 5)
= -16,990
Life 1: AW 1-5 = -16,990
Life 2: AW 6-10 = -14,000(A|P, 15, 5)- 14,000 + 8,000(A|F, 15, 5) = -16,990
Life 3: AW 11-15 = -16,990
Life 4: AW 16-20 = -16,990

Shortcut: If the study period equals a common multiple of the

alternatives' lives, simply compare AW computed over the
respective useful lives (assuming repeatability is valid).

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Case 2: Study Period > Useful Life
What if the study period is not a common multiple of the
alternatives' lives or repeatability is not applicable?
Use the Cotermination Assumption (page 211).
Procedure: The cash flows of the alternatives need to be adjusted
to terminate at the end of the study period.
• Cost alternatives: Assuming repeatability, repeat part of the useful life of the
original alternative, and then use an estimated MV to truncate it at the end of
the study period.Without repeatability, we must purchase/lease the service/asset
for the remaining years.

• Investment alternatives: Assume all cash flows will be reinvested at the MARR
to the end of the study period (i.e., calculate FW at end of useful life and move
this to the end of the study period using the MARR).

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Case 2: Study Period < Useful Life
When the study period is explicitly stated to be shorter than the
useful life, use the cotermination assumption.
Procedure: The cash flows of the alternatives need to be adjusted
to terminate at the end of the study period.
• Truncate the alternative at the end of the study period using
an estimated Market Value.

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Example of Cotermination (Case 2)
Suppose the study period had been stated to be 20 years. Which
boiler would you recommend?
Boiler A Boiler B
Investment cost $50,000 $120,000
Useful life 20 yrs. 40 yrs.
Salvage value @ 10,000 20,000
end of useful life
Annual costs 9,000 6,000
Useful life of A = 20 years = study period
Useful life of B = 40 years > study period
Assume MV B @ EOY 20 = $50,000
The MARR is 10% per year.
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Example Continued (Cotermination)
AWA (10%) = -14,700
AWB (10%) = - 6,000 –[20,000(A|P, 10, 20) -50,000(A|F, 10, 20)]
= -19,225
Still select Boiler A to minimize costs.

What would the market value of Boiler B @ EOY 20 have to be in

order to select Boiler B instead of A?

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Example Continued (Cotermination)
Market Value of Boiler B to reverse the decision = ?
Set AWA = AWB , let X be the unknown market value
-14,700 = -6,000 - {120,000(A|P, 10, 20) - X(A|F,10, 20)}
-8,700 = -{14,100 - 0.0175X}
5,400 = 0.0175X
X = $308,571 therefore, MVB > $308,571 to favor B

Such a value is very unlikely because X is more than the initial

cost of Boiler B.

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Problem 5-24a Revisited with Cotermination
If the study period = 10 years and the estimated market value for
alternate B = $25,000 @ EOY 10, which alternative is preferred?

AWA = -$16,990 AW B = -65,000(A|P,15%,10) - 9,000

+ 25,000(A|F,15%,10)
= -$20,722
Alternative A is still preferred.

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Review of Chapter 5
Comparison of Mutually Exclusive Alternatives (MEAs)
• Investment Alternatives (usually includes DN)
• Cost Alternatives (must do)
Equivalent Worth Methods of Comparing MEAs
• Maximize worth or Minimize costs
• Use the MARR as the interest rate
Comparing MEAs using the IRR
• Never simply choose the MEA that maximizes IRR
• Compare MEAs by looking at the IRR on the incremental
investment/cost required to choose higher FC MEAs
Study Period ≠ Useful Life
• Repeatability Assumption
• Cotermination Assumption

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Problem 5-21 (Useful Life ≠ Study Period)
Given two MEAs, which one (if either) should be implemented?
MARR = 15% per year
Machine: A B
Investment cost -$20,000 -$30,000
Annual Revenues 10,000 14,000
Annual Expenses -4,400 -8,600
Market Value 4,000 0
Useful Life (yrs) 5 10
(a) Use the AW method
Assume Repeatability, study period = 10 years
AWA = -20,000(A|P, 15%, 5) + 5,600 + 4,000(A|F, 15%, 5)
= $227
AWB = -30,000(A|P, 15%, 10) + 5,400
= -$579
Choose Alternative A

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Problem 5-21 Continued
(b) Use the PW method (explicitly compare alternatives over ten years)
PWA = -20,000 + 5,600 (P|A, 15%, 10) - 16,000(P|F, 15%, 5)
+ 4,000(P|F, 15%, 10)
= $1,138.88

PW B = -30,000 + 5,400(P|A, 15%, 10)

= -$2,899

We confirm our decision in part (a) to choose Alternative A.

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Problem 5-21b continued
What if we could not assume repeatability?
Use the FW method, Study period = 10 years
Assume the FW at the end of the useful life of Alternative A will be
reinvested at the MARR until the end of the study period.

FW A = -20,000(F|P,15%,10) + 5,600(F|A,15%,5)(F|P,15%,5)
+ 4,000(F|P, 15%, 5)
= $3079

FW B = -30,000(F|P,15%,10) + 5,400(F|A, 15%, 10)

= -$11,728

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Chapter 5 Review Problem – Hokie Manufacturing
Two mutually exclusive engineering projects, A and B, are being
considered by Hokie Manufacturing. Both projects have a life of
10 years. Estimated cash flows are shown below. The MARR is
15%. You have been hired to determine which of the two projects,
if either, Hokie Manufacturing should undertake.
Perform your analysis using an incremental procedure.
A B
Initial Investment $45,000 $55,000
Annual Revenues 12,500 14,000
Annual Costs 2,500 2,500
Salvage Value 1,500 4,000

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Hokie Manufacturing Continued
Solve by incremental present worth

• DN → A → B
• Compare DN → A
PWDN(15%) = 0

PWDN→A(15%) = PW A (15%) =
= - 45,000 + 10,000(P/A,15%,10) + 1500(P/F,15%,10)
= $5,558.80
Since PW DN->A = $5,558.80, we know that the incremental
investment is worthwhile at a MARR of 15%. Keep A, Drop DN.

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Hokie Manufacturing Continued
• Compare A → B
PWA→B (15%)
= -10,000 + 1,500(P/A,15%,10) + 2,500(P/F,15%,10)
= -1,853.8

Since PWA→B = -$1,853.8, we know that the

incremental investment is NOT profitable at a MARR
of 15%. Keep A, Drop B.

We also know when the PWA→B (MARR) < 0,

then the IRRA→B <MARR

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