When you have a lousy text like Blank and Tarquin's Engineering Economy, you have to use other sources of information to help learn the subject.

When you have a lousy text like Blank and Tarquin's Engineering Economy, you have to use other sources of information to help learn the subject.

The best thing about this outline, particularly the second half, is the use of real-world examples to illustrate the use of equations. Lots of Engineering Economy texts either fail to explain the equations sufficiently, or they lack examples of varying complexity so that the student can really test their knowledge of the subject. This outline bridges that gap and would make an excellent study guide for anyone enrolled in an Engineering Economy class. Just don't think it can stand alone as a textbook on the subject.

The first five chapters are very basic, starting with the calculation of simple interest and continuing through continuous compounding and continuous payments. Chapter three is rather interesting, showing how algebra and linear interpolation can be used to calculate various values if they fall between two tabulated values. It's a simple enough concept, but it is often omitted in textbooks on engineering economy.

Chapter six turns to more advanced topics, starting with economic equivalence and determining at what time money transactions actually occur based on the fact that money changes value with time. Chapter 7 treats several valuation methods which are useful in deciding among economic alternatives. Chapter 8 acts as a sequel and is devoted to techniques that are primarily used for analyzing proposed capital investments. Chapter nine reaches back to the concept of the MARR (Minimum Acceptable Rate of Return) first discussed in chapter six and discusses in detail the best way to allocate a given budget among several competing projects. Chapters 10 and 11 discuss the related issues of equipment replacement and retirement, depreciation, and taxes. The outline shows how to determine if a piece of equipment has reached a point beyond which it has become uneconomical to operate it even if the equipment is still "running".

Chapter 12 is a capstone chapter in the book in that it bridges the gap between the specific techniques presented in the first eleven chapters and investment decisions made in the real world. Chapter twelve is thus concerned with the presentation of a feasability analysis to a lending institution. Highly recommended as a study guide.