An engineering economy expression analyzer

Students and practitioners of engineering economy are faced with the unenviable task of evaluating engineering economy expressions. If the example expression: 1000 ^* (P/F,10,5) − 500 ^* (P/F,6,20) + 100 ^* (P/A,8,20) were solved manually, it would require three table look-ups to determine the values of the cash flow factors.

This paper discusses the automation of engineering economy expression analysis. A public domain program has been developed that solves engineering economy expressions. The above expression can be entered into the program exactly as written, and the computer will respond with the evaluated result. The program also has an integral editor and the ability to solve for unknowns such as interest rates.