11-4

In planning a small two-story office building, the architect has submitted two designs. The first provides foundation and structural details so that two additional stories can be added to the required initial two stories at a later date and without modifications to the original structure. This building would cost $1,400,000.

The second design, without such provisions, would cost only $1,250,000.

If the first plan is adopted, an additional two stories could be added at a later date at a cost of $850,000.

If the second plan is adopted, however, considerable strengthening and reconstruction would be required, which would add $300,000 to the cost of a two-story addition.

Assuming that the building is expected to be needed for 75 years

MARR is 10% per year

How many years must pass in order for the two scenarios to be equal in costs?

Round to 2 decimal places

(THE ANSWER IS NOT 7 YEARS OR 6.87 YEARS)