3. The management of a private hospital is considering the installation of an automatic telephone switchboard, which would replace a manual switchboard and eliminate the attendant operator's position. The class of service provided by the new equipment is estimated to be at least equal to the present method of operation. Five operators are working to provide telephone service three shifts per day, 365 days per year. Each operator earns $14,000 per year. Company-paid benefits and overhead are 25% of wages. Money costs 8% after-income taxes. Combined federal and state income taxes are 40%. Annual maintenance cost is 4% of investment. Depreciation is 15-year straight line. Assume all estimated numbers are based on today's dollar and an inflation rate of 3% per year is estimated over the course of 15 years. Salvage value of the new equipment will be zero after 15 years. How large an investment in the new equipment can be economically justified by savings obtained by eliminating the present equipment and labor costs? The existing equipment has zero salvage value. 3. The management of a private hospital is considering the installation of an automatic telephone switchboard, which would replace a manual switchboard and eliminate the attendant operator's position. The class of service provided by the new equipment is estimated to be at least equal to the present method of operation. Five operators are working to provide telephone service three shifts per day, 365 days per year. Each operator earns $14,000 per year. Company-paid benefits and overhead are 25% of wages. Money costs 8% after-income taxes. Combined federal and state income taxes are 40%. Annual maintenance cost is 4% of investment. Depreciation is 15-year straight line. Assume all estimated numbers are based on today's dollar and an inflation rate of 3% per year is estimated over the course of 15 years. Salvage value of the new equipment will be zero after 15 years. How large an investment in the new equipment can be economically justified by savings obtained by eliminating the present equipment and labor costs? The existing equipment has zero salvage value