Final answer:
The question asks for an investment analysis to determine the viability of purchasing a computer system for a bike shop, taking into account depreciation, tax savings, and required return rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is considering whether to purchase a computer system for a bike shop. With a cost of $40,000 that can be depreciated over four years using straight-line depreciation to a zero value, an analysis is needed to determine if the investment is viable considering the tax savings and the required rate of return. The pre-tax operating cost savings of $15,000 per year and a tax rate of 34% must be factored into a net present value (NPV) calculation or similar investment appraisal technique to determine if the computer system's benefits outweigh the costs, considering the firm's required return of 15%.