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

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

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