Final answer:
The net present value (NPV) is a financial metric used to determine the value of an investment. It takes into account the cash inflows and outflows over a specified period of time, discounted by a predetermined interest rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The net present value (NPV) is a financial metric used to determine the value of an investment. It takes into account the cash inflows and outflows over a specified period of time, discounted by a predetermined interest rate. To calculate the NPV, the future cash flows are discounted to their present value using the appropriate discount rate.
In this case, the annual increase in cash flow from the equipment is $220,000. The equipment has an initial cost of $968,000 and a 6-year life with no salvage value. The hurdle rate, or discount rate, is 8%.
To calculate the NPV, we need to discount the annual cash flow of $220,000 over 6 years. The present value of each cash flow is calculated by dividing it by (1 + discount rate)^n, where n is the number of years. The NPV is then the sum of the present values.
Using the appropriate discount factor from the present value tables, we can calculate the present value for each year's cash flow. Adding up all the present values gives us the approximate net present value of the equipment purchase.