Berkshire Controllers usually finances its engineering projects with a combination of debt and equity capital. The resulting MARR ranges from a low of 4% per year, if business is slow, to a high of 10% per year. Normally, a 7% per year return is expected. Also the life estimates for assets tend to go down about 20% from normal in a vigorous business environment and up about 10% in a receding economy. The following estimates are the most likely values for two expansion plans currently being evaluated. Plan A will be executed at one location; Plan B will require two locations.

All monetary estimates are in $1000 units.

At the weekly meeting, you were asked to examine the following questions from Berkshire's president.
1. Are the PW values for plans A and B sensitive to changes in the MARR?
2. Are the PW values sensitive to varying life estimates?
3. Is the breakeven point for the first cost of plan A sensitive to the changes in MARR as business goes from vigorous toreceding?

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Plan B Plan A Location 1 Location 2 10,000 -30,000 -100 -5,000 -200 First cost, S AOC, $ per year Salvage value, $ Estimated life, years 500 1,000 5,000 -200 40 40 20