Describe the invention process. What is involved in inventing, and what must you consider during the invention process?

Kumar consulting operates several stock investment portfolios that are used by firms for investment of pension plan assets. last year, one portfolio had a realized return of 12.6 percent and a beta coefficient of 1.15. the average t-bond rate was 7 percent and the realized rate of return on the s& p 500 was 12 percent. what was the portfolio's alpha?

Apopular low-cost airline, parson corp., has gone out of business. although the service and price provided by the airline was what customers wanted, the larger airlines were able to drive the low-cost airline out of business through an aggressive price war. which component of the competitive environment does this illustrate? a) threat of new entrants b)competitors c) economic factors d) customers d) regulators

The gilbert instrument corporation is considering replacing the wood steamer it currently uses to shape guitar sides. the steamer has 6 years of remaining life. if kept,the steamer will have depreciaiton expenses of $650 for five years and $325 for the sixthyear. its current book value is $3,575, and it can be sold on an internet auction site for$4,150 at this time. if the old steamer is not replaced, it can be sold for $800 at the endof its useful life. gilbert is considering purchasing the side steamer 3000, a higher-end steamer, whichcosts $12,000 and has an estimated useful life of 6 years with an estimated salvage value of$1,500. this steamer falls into the macrs 5-year class, so the applicable depreciationrates are 20.00%, 32.00%, 19.20%, 11.52%, 11.52%, and 5.76%. the new steamer is fasterand allows for an output expansion, so sales would rise by $2,000 per year; the newmachine's much greater efficiency would reduce operating expenses by $1,900 per year.to support the greater sales, the new machine would require that inventories increase by$2,900, but accounts payable would simultaneously increase by $700. gilbert's marginalfederal-plus-state tax rate is 40%, and its wacc is 15%.a. should it replace the old steamer? b. npv of replace = $2,083.51