Download lab spreadsheet discounting-lab.xlsx (OR 2016 version). The spreadsheet has nine worksheets. The things you want to take away from this lab are:

1. how to use power function in Excel
2. how to construct simple discounting schedule in excel
3. how to use Excel's NPV function to calculate net present value of a series of costs and benefits.
4. how to use Excel's IRR function.
5. how to chart a series of costs and benefits

## Background Excel Functions

POWER(base,exponent)
NPV(rate,value1,[value2,…)] (net present value of a series of payments over time)

### First, learn about the POWER function

We will need the Excel function for raising a number to a power (base to an exponent). The syntax is power(base, exponent). What formula, for example, would give us the value of 202?

(1)
$$=power(20,2)$$

TASK 1. On worksheet POWER, construct a simple table of what the numbers 0 to 9are when raised to the powers of 0 through 9.

## Simple Compound Interest

Compound interest calculation. Suppose we have 100 initially and invest it at 5% interest compounded annually. How much do we have over each of the next ten years?

### New Car or Used?

Again, reprising an example we have already seen.

### Costs and Benefits

OK, so finally, we can apply all of this to a project that has a projected series of annual costs and benefits. After you have calculated and compared NPV for each scenario, make a chart that nicely shows how they compare. Do a short (a few sentences) writeup and make a chart that shows the costs/benefits stream to show the work and show off your skills (at discounting and at presentation).

### Comparing Discount Rates

What if we have two projects and their respective streams of costs and benefits and we want to compare them under different assumed discount rates? Try it on this next worksheet. Chart the results. Comment.

page revision: 33, last edited: 07 Apr 2016 22:50