The Elberta Fruit Farm of Ontario always has hired transient workers to pick its annual cherry crop. Janessa Wright, the farm manager, just received information on a cherry picking machine that is being purchased by many fruit farms. The machine is a motorized device that shakes the cherry tree, causing the cherries to fall onto plastic tarps that funnel the cherries into bins. Ms. Wright has gathered the following information to decide whether a cherry picker would be a profitable investment for the Elberta Fruit Farm:

1. Currently, the farm is paying an average of $210,000 per year to transient workers to pick the cherries.
2. The cherry picker would cost $550,000. It would be depreciated using the straight-line method and it would have no salvage value at the end of its 8-year useful life.
3. Annual out-of-pocket costs associated with the cherry picker would be: cost of an operator and an assistant, $95,000; insurance, $4,000; fuel, $12,000; and a maintenance contract, $15,000.

Click here to view Exhibit 12B-1 and Exhibit 12B-2, to determine the appropriate discount factor using tables.

Required:

1. Determine the annual savings in cash operating costs that would be realized if the cherry picker were purchased.

2a. Compute the simple rate of return expected from the cherry picker.

2b. Would the cherry picker be purchased if Elberta Fruit Farms required rate of return is 9%?

3a. Compute the payback period on the cherry picker.

3b. The Elberta Fruit Farm will not purchase equipment unless it has a payback period of seven years or less. Would the cherry picker be purchased?

4a. Compute the internal rate of return promised by the cherry picker.

4b. Based on this computation, does it appear that the simple rate of return is an accurate guide in investment decisions?

EXHIBIT 12B-1 Present Value of $1; (1 +py" Periods 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% 21% 22% 23% 24% 25% 1 0.962 0.952 0.943 0.935 0.926 0.917 0.909 0.901 0.893 0.885 0.877 0.870 0.862 0.855 0.847 0.840 0.833 0.826 0.820 0.813 0.806 0.800 2 0.925 0.907 0.890 0.873 0.857 0.842 0.826 0.812 0.797 0.783 0.769 0.756 0.743 0.731 0.718 0.706 0.694 0.683 0.672 0.661 0.650 0.640 3 0.889 0.864 0.840 0.816 0.794 0.772 0.751 0.731 0.712 0.693 0.675 0.658 0.641 0.624 0.609 0.593 0.579 0.564 0.551 0.537 0.524 0.512 4 0.855 0.823 0.792 0.763 0.735 0.708 0.683 0.659 0.636 0.613 0.592 0.572 0.552 0.534 0.516 0.499 0.482 0.467 0.451 0.437 0.423 0.410 5 0.822 0.784 0.747 0.713 0.681 0.650 0.621 0.593 0.567 0.543 0.519 0.497 0.476 0.456 0.437 0.419 0.402 0.386 0.370 0.355 0.341 0.328 6 0.790 0.746 0.705 0.666 0.630 0.596 0.564 0.535 0.507 0.480 0.456 0.432 0.410 0.390 0.370 0.352 0.335 0.319 0.303 0.289 0.275 0.262 7 0.760 0.711 0.665 0.623 0.583 0.547 0.513 0.482 0.452 0.425 0.400 0.376 0.354 0.333 0.314 0.296 0.279 0.263 0.249 0.235 0.222 0.210 8 0.731 0.677 0.627 0.582 0.540 0.502 0.467 0.434 0.404 0.376 0.351 0.327 0.305 0.285 0.266 0.249 0.233 0.218 0.204 0.191 0.179 0.168 9 0.703 0.645 0.592 0.544 0.500 0.460 0.424 0.391 0.361 0.333 0.308 0.284 0.263 0.243 0.225 0.209 0.194 0.180 0.167 0.155 0.144 0.134 10 0.676 0.614 0.558 0.508 0.463 0.422 0.386 0.352 0.322 0.295 0.270 0.247 0.227 0.208 0.191 0.176 0.162 0.149 0.137 0.126 0.116 0.107 11 0.650 0.585 0.527 0.475 0.429 0.388 0.350 0.317 0.287 0.261 0.237 0.215 0.195 0.178 0.162 0.148 0.135 0.123 0.112 0.103 0.094 0.086 12 0.625 0.557 0.497 0.444 0.397 0.356 0.319 0.286 0.257 0.231 0.208 0.187 0.168 0.152 0.137 0.124 0.112 0.102 0.092 0.083 0.076 0.069 13 0.601 0.530 0.469 0.415 0.368 0.326 0.290 0.258 0.229 0.204 0.182 0.163 0.145 0.130 0.116 0.104 0.093 0.084 0.075 0.068 0.061 0.055 14 0.577 0.505 0.442 0.388 0.340 0.299 0.263 0.232 0.205 0.181 0.160 0.141 0.125 0.111 0.099 088 0.078 0.069 0.062 0.055 0.049 0.044 15 0.555 0.481 0.417 0.362 0.315 0.275 0.239 0.209 0.183 0.160 0.140 0.123 0.108 0.095 0.084 0.074 0.065 0.057 0.051 0.045 0.040 0.035 16 0.534 0.458 0.394 0.339 0.292 0.252 0.218 0.188 0.163 0.141 0.123 0.107 0.093 0.081 0.071 0.062 0.054 0.047 0.042 0.036 0.032 0.028 17 0.513 0.436 0.371 0.317 0.270 0.231 0.198 0.170 0.146 0.125 0.108 0.093 0.080 0.069 0.060 0,052 0.045 0.039 0.034 0.030 0.026 0.023 18 0.494 0.416 0.350 0.296 0.250 0.212 0.180 0.153 0.130 0.111 0.095 0.081 0.069 0.059 0.051 0.044 0.038 0.032 0.028 0.024 0.021 0.018 19 0.475 0.396 0.331 0.277 0.232 0.194 0.164 0.138 0.116 0.098 0.083 0.070 0.060 0.051 0.043 0.037 0.031 0.027 0.023 0.020 0.017 0.014 20 0.456 0.377 0.312 0.258 0.215 0.178 0.149 0.124 0.104 0.087 0.073 0.061 0.051 0.043 0.037 0.031 0.026 0.022 0.019 0.016 0.014 0.012 21 0.439 0.359 0.294 0.242 0.1990.164 0.135 0.112 0.093 0.077 0.064 0.053 0.044 0.037 0.031 0.026 0.022 0.018 0.015 0.013 0.0110.009 22 0.422 0.342 0.278 0.226 0.184 0.150 0.123 0.101 0.083 0.068 0.056 0.046 0.038 0.032 0.026 0.022 0.018 0.015 0.013 0.011 0.009 0.007 23 0.406 0.326 0.262 0.211 0.170 0.138 0.112 0.091 0.074 0.060 0.049 0.040 0.033 0.027 0.022 0.018 0.015 0.012 0.010 0.009 0.007 0.006 24 0.390 0.310 0.247 0.197 0.158 0.126 0.102 0.082 0.066 0.053 0.043 0.035 0.028 0.023 0.019 0.015 0.013 0.010 0.008 0.007 0.006 0.005 25 0.375 0.295 0.233 0.184 0.146 0.116 0,092 0.074 0.059 0.047 0.038 0.030 0.024 0.020 0,016 0.013 0.010 0,009 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.004 26 0.361 0.281 0.220 0.172 0.135 0.106 0.084 0.066 0.053 0.042 0.033 0.026 0.021 0.017 0.014 0.011 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.003 27 0.347 0.268 0.207 0.161 0.125 0.098 0.076 0.060 0.047 0.037 0.029 0.023 0.018 0.014 0.011 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 28 0.333 0.255 0.196 0.150 0.116 0.090 0.069 0.054 0.042 0.033 0.026 0.020 0.016 0.012 0.010 0.008 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.002 29 0.321 0.243 0.185 0.141 0.107 0.082 0.063 0.048 0.037 0.029 0.022 0.017 0.014 0.011 0.008 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.002 30 0.308 0.231 0.174 0.131 0.099 0.075 0.057 0.044 0.033 0.026 0.020 0.015 0.012 0.009 0.007 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.001 40 0.208 0.142 0.097 0.067 0.046 0.032 0.022 0.015 0.011 0.008 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 EXHIBIT 12B-2 Present Value of an Annuity of $1 in Arrears; + [1 - a to] 7.161 Periods 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% 21% 22% 23% 24% 25% 1 0.962 0.952 0.943 0.935 0.926 0.917 0.909 0.901 0.893 0.885 0.877 0.870 0.862 0.855 0.847 0.840 0.833 0.826 0.820 0.813 0.806 0.800 2 1.886 1.859 1.833 1.808 1.783 1.759 1736 1713 1.690 1.668 1.647 1.626 1.605 1.585 1.566 1.547 1.528 1.509 1492 1.474 1457 1.440 3 2.775 2.723 2.673 2.624 2.577 2.531 2.487 2.444 2.402 2.361 2.322 2.283 2.246 2.210 2.174 2.140 2.106 2.074 2.042 2.011 1.981 1.952 4 3.630 3.546 3.465 3.387 3.312 3.240 3.170 3.102 3.037 2.974 2.914 2.855 2.798 2.743 2.690 2.639 2.589 2.540 2.494 2.448 2.404 2.362 5 4.452 4.329 4.212 4.100 3.993 3.890 3.791 3.696 3.605 3.517 3.433 3.352 3.274 3.199 3.127 3.058 2.991 2.926 2.864 2.803 2.745 2.689 6 5.242 5.076 4.917 4.767 4.623 4.486 4.355 4.231 4.111 3.998 3.889 3.784 3.685 3.589 3.498 3.410 3.326 3.245 3.167 3.092 3.020 2.951 7 6.002 5.786 5.582 5.389 5.206 5.033 4.868 4.712 4.564 4.423 4.288 4.160 4.039 3.922 3.812 3.706 3.605 3.508 3.416 3.327 3.242 3.161 8 6.733 6.463 6.210 5.971 5.747 5.535 5.335 5.146 4.968 4.799 4.639 4.487 4.344 4.207 4.078 3.954 3.837 3.726 3.619 3.518 3.421 3.329 9 7.435 7108 6.802 6.515 6.247 5.995 5.759 5.537 5.328 5.132 4.946 4.772 4.607 4.451 4.303 4.163 4.031 3.905 3.786 3.673 3.566 3.463 10 8.111 7.722 7.360 7024 6.710 6.418 6.145 5.889 5.650 5.426 5.216 5.019 4.833 4.659 4.494 4.339 4.192 4.054 3.923 3.799 3.682 3.571 11 8.760 8.306 7.887 7.499 7139 6.805 6.495 6.207 5.938 5.687 5.453 5.234 5.029 4.836 4.656 4.486 4.327 4.177 4.035 3.902 3.776 3.656 12 9.385 8.863 8.384 7.943 7.536 6.814 6.492 6.194 5.918 5.660 5.421 5.197 4.988 4.793 4.611 4.439 4.278 4.127 3.985 3.851 3.725 13 9.986 9.394 8.853 8.358 7.904 7.487 7.103 6.750 6.424 6.122 5.842 5.583 5.342 5.118 4.910 4.715 4.533 4.362 4.203 4.053 3.912 3.780 14 10.563 9.899 9.295 8.745 8.244 7.786 7.367 6.982 6.628 6.302 6.002 5.724 5.468 5.229 5.008 4.802 4.611 4.432 4.265 4108 3.962 3.824 15 11.118 10.380 9.712 9.108 8.559 8.061 7606 7191 6.811 6.462 6.142 5.847 5.575 5.324 5.092 4.876 4.675 4.489 4.315 4.153 4.001 3.859 16 11.652 10.838 10.106 9.447 8.851 8.313 7.824 7379 6.974 6.604 6.265 5.954 5.668 5.405 5.162 4.938 4.730 4.536 4.357 4.189 4.033 3.887 17 12.166 11.274 10.477 9.763 9.122 8.544 8.022 7549 7.120 6.729 6.373 6.047 5.749 5.475 5.222 4.990 4.775 4.576 4.391 4.219 4.059 3.910 18 12.659 11.690 10.828 10.059 9.372 8.756 8201 7.702 7.250 6.840 6.467 6.128 5.818 5.534 5.273 5.033 4.812 4.608 4.419 4.243 4.080 3.928 19 13.134 12.085 11.158 10.336 9.604 8.950 8.365 7839 7.366 6.938 6.550 6.198 5.877 5.584 5.316 5.070 4.843 4.635 4.442 4.263 4.097 3.942 20 13.590 12.462 11.470 10.594 9.818 9.129 8.514 7.963 7.469 7025 6.623 6.259 5.929 5.628 5.353 5101 4.870 4.657 4.460 4.279 4.110 3.954 21 14.029 12.821 11.764 10.836 10.017 9.292 8.649 8,075 7.562 7102 6.687 6.312 5.973 5.665 5.384 5127 4.891 4.675 4.476 4.292 4.121 3.963 22 14.451 13.163 12.042 11.061 10.201 9.442 8.7728.176 7.645 7170 6.743 6.359 6.011 5.696 5.410 5.149 4.909 4.690 4.488 4.302 4130 3.970 23 14.857 13.489 12.303 11.272 10.371 9.580 8.883 8.266 7.718 7.230 6.792 6.399 6.044 5.723 5.432 5.167 4.925 4.703 4.499 4.311 4.137 3.976 24 15.247 13.799 12.550 11.469 10.529 9.707 8.985 8.348 7784 7283 6.835 6.434 6.073 5.746 5.451 5.182 4.937 4.713 4.507 4.318 4143 3.981 25 15.622 14.094 12.783 11.654 10.675 9.823 9.077 8.422 7.843 7330 6.873 6.464 6.097 5.766 5.467 5.195 4.948 4.721 4.514 4.323 4.147 3.985 26 15.983 14.375 13.003 11.826 10.810 9.929 9.161 8.488 7.896 7372 6.906 6.491 6.118 5.783 5.480 5.206 4.956 4.728 4.520 4.328 4.151 3.988 27 16.330 14.643 13.211 11.987 10.935 10.027 9.237 8.548 7.943 7.409 6.935 6.514 6.136 5.798 5.492 5.215 4.964 4.734 4.524 4.332 4154 3.990 28 16.663 14.898 13.406 12.137 11.051 10.116 9.307 8.602 7.984 7.441 6.961 6.534 6.152 5.810 5.502 5.223 4.970 4.739 4.528 4.335 4.157 3.992 29 16.984 15.141 13.591 12.278 11.158 10.198 9.370 8.650 8.022 7.470 6.983 6.551 6.166 5.820 5.510 5.229 4.975 4.743 4.531 4.337 4.159 3.994 30 17.292 15.372 13.765 12.409 11.258 10.274 9.427 8.694 8.055 7496 7003 6.566 6.177 5.829 5.517 5.235 4.979 4.746 4.534 4.339 4.160 3.995 40 19.793 17.159 15.046 13.332 11.925 10.757 9.779 8.951 8.244 7634 7105 6.642 6.233 5.871 5.548 5.258 4.997 4.760 4.544 4.347 4.166 3.999