Direct answer: Internal rate of return is approximately 14.47%.Explanation:Internal rate of return (IRR) is the rate at which the net present value of all future cash flows from a project or investment equals zero. It is a way of estimating the potential profitability of an investment. The formula for calculating the internal rate of return is complex and involves the calculation of present values, but it can be calculated using a financial calculator or spreadsheet software. Here, we are given the initial investment, the useful life of the machine, and the estimated increase in annual net cash flows. Using this information, we can calculate the approximate internal rate of return using the following formula:0 = -173,000 + (33,229 / (1 + IRR)^1) + (33,229 / (1 + IRR)^2) + ... + (33,229 / (1 + IRR)^7)where IRR is the internal rate of return.We can solve for IRR using a financial calculator or spreadsheet software. Using a financial calculator, we get:Input CF0 = -173,000; C01 = 33,229; F01 = 7; and IRR = 14.47%.Therefore, the approximate internal rate of return is 14.47%.