We are evaluating a project that costs $1.68 million, has a six-year life, and has no salvage value. Assume that depreciation is straight-line to zero over the life of the project. Sales are projected at 90,000 units per year. Price per unit is $37.95, variable cost per unit is $23.20, and fixed costs are $815,000 per year. The tax rate is 21 percent, and we require a return of 11 percent on this project. Suppose the projections given for price, quantity, variable costs, and fixed costs are all accurate to within ±10 percent. Required:
Calculate the best-case and worst-case NPV figures.

                              Best-Case        Worst-Case

                                  NPV                     NPV

PV of cash inflows $2,897,706      $3,187,477

PV of project cost  $1,680,000     $1,848,000 ($1,680,000 * 1.1)

NPV                         $1,217,706    $1,339,477

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Initial project cost = $1.68 million

Project's estimated life = 6 years

Salvage value = $0

Depreciation expense = $280,000 ($1.68 million/6)

Income Statement:

Sales revenue (90,000 * $37.95) = $3,415,500

Cost of goods sold:

Variable cost (90,000 * $23.20) =    2,088,000

Gross profit =                                    $1,327,500

Fixed costs =                                         815,000

Income before tax =                           $512,500

Income tax (21% of $512,500) =          107,625

Net income =                                     $404,875

Add depreciation expense                280,000

Annual cash inflows =                      $684,875

PV annuity factor for 6 years at 11% = 4.231

PV of annual cash inflows of $684,875= $2,897,706 ($684,875 * 4.231)

Annual cash inflows = $753,363 ($684,875 * 1.1)

PV of annual cash inflows of $753,363 = $3,187,477 ($753,363 * 4.231)

a manufacturer of printed circuit boards uses exponential smoothing with trend to forecast monthly demand of its product. at the end of december, the company wishes to forecast sales for january. the estimate of trend through november has been 200 additional boards sold per month. average sales have been around 1000 units per month. the demand for december was 1100 units. the company uses α = 0.20 and β = 0.10. make a forecast including trend for the month of january.

in terms of experimental research, mcdonald’s charging different prices in the two cities relates to