Final answer:
The payback period for an initial investment of $50,000 with an average net cash flow of $10,000 per year is 5 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
The payback period is calculated by dividing the initial project investment by the average annual cash inflow from the project. In this case, if the initial investment is $50,000 and the average net cash flow is $10,000 per year, the payback period would be:
$50,000 รท $10,000/year = 5 years
Therefore, the payback period is 5 years (option a).