FE Chemical Economics Practice Problems

The current FE Chemical specification assigns 4-6 of the 110 exam questions to Economics. Form A contains 4 original problems in this area. The sample below is published in full, with the same worked-solution format used throughout the book.

Free sample problem

A process upgrade costs USD 120,000 now and returns USD 35,000 at each year-end for 5 years. At 8%, net present worth is most nearly:

  1. (A)-120000 USD
  2. (B)1980 USD
  3. (C)15796 USD
  4. (D)19745 USD
Show worked solution

Answer: (D)

Present worth of returns is USD 139,745; minus initial cost gives NPW about USD 19,745.

Uniform annual returns use the present-worth annuity factor.

The factor is 3.9927.

FE Reference Handbook — Economics: Net Present Worth

Why the other choices appear

  • (A)Reporting initial cost alone omits annual returns.
  • (B)Using an overly rounded annuity factor nearly eliminates the positive worth.
  • (C)Applying an unsupported 20% final scaling understates the result obtained from the governing relation.

The complete FE Chemical practice exam contains 4 problems in this area and 110 problems overall, with an answer key, full solutions, and a score sheet by knowledge area.

Retaking this exam? The FE exam retake guide turns the NCEES diagnostic report into an area-by-area plan.