Oregon Forest Products will acquire new equipment that falls under the five-year MACRS category. The cost is $280,000. If the equipment is purchased, the following earnings before depreciation and taxes will be generated for the next six years. Use Table 12-12.

		Earnings before Depreciation
Year 1		$	79,000
Year 2			92,000
Year 3			65,000
Year 4			44,000
Year 5			34,000
Year 6			25,000

The firm is in a 25 percent tax bracket and has a 9 percent cost of capital.

a. Calculate the net present value. (A negative amount should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answer to the nearest whole dollar amount.)

b. Under the net present value method, should Oregon Forest Products purchase the equipment asset?