Fuzzy Tail Industries produces wooden picnic tables for fuzzy creatures (hamster and squirrel size are its most popular products). The company is deciding whether or not to purchase a new machine that would require an initial investment of $52,000 and is expected to generate future cash flows of $10,000 in years 1 through 3, $8,000 for years 4 and 5, and $2,000 for years 6 and 7, and $4,000 for years 8 through 10. The company prefers a payback period of 4 years or less. What is the payback period for this machine

7.5 Years

Explanation:

The computation of the payback period of the given machine is shown below:

Year       Initial outflow       Cash flow       Cumulative cash flow

               (52000)  

1                                              10,000               10,000

2                                              10,000              20,000

3                                              10,000              30,000

4                                               8,000               38,000

5                                               8,000               46,000

6                                               2,000                48,000

7                                                2,000                50,000

8                                                4,000                 54000

9                                                4,000                 58000

10                                               4,000                 62000

Now the Payback period is

=  Completed years+ required cash ÷ annual cash inflow

= 7 years + 2000 ÷ 4000

= 7.5 Years

answer; ///i believe that the correct answer is (a) it is the means by which a person earns money;

answer; situational irony;