Engineering Economy [Hardcover]

Leland T Blank (Author), Anthony Tarquin (Author), Leland Blank (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0072432349 | ISBN-13: 978-0072432343 | Edition: 5

This student-friendly text on the current economic issues particular to engineering covers the topics needed to analyze engineering alternatives. Students use both hand-worked and spreadsheet solutions of examples, problems and case studies. In this edition the options have been increased, with an expanded spreadsheet analysis component, twice the number of case studies, and virtually all new end-of-chapter problems. The chapters on factor derivation and usage, cost estimation, replacement studies, and after-tax evaluation have been heavily revised. New material is included on public sector projects and cost estimation. A reordering of chapters puts the fundamental topics up front in the text. Many chapters include a special set of problems that prepare the students for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

This college-level text provides students and practicing professionals with a solid preparation in the financial understanding of engineering problems and projects, as well as the techniques needed for evaluating and making sound economic decisions. Distinguishing characteristics include learning objectives for each chapter, an easy-to-read writing style, many solved examples, integrated spreadsheets, and case studies throughout the text. Graphical cross-referencing between topics and quick-solve spreadsheet solutions are indicated in the margins throughout the text. While the chapters are progressive, over three-quarters can stand alone, allowing instructors flexibility for meeting course needs. A complete online learning center (OLC) offers supplemental practice problems, spreadsheet exercises, and review questions for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 768 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; 5 edition (August 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072432349
• ISBN-13: 978-0072432343
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars "How to make a good student want to drop out of college", June 18, 2006

By 

Godzilla "Godzilla" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Engineering Economy (McGraw-Hill Series in Industrial Engineering and Management) (Hardcover)

As someone who loves to learn, this is the most incomplete, illogically written textbook I've ever encountered. As a disclaimer, usually I have better things to do than review books online for complete strangers, but thankfully I can vent here, or I may have been compelled to use it to shatter my living room window, which wouldn't be good.

At best, it meanders back and forth between actual formulas and their complementary Excel formulas, which leaves the reader wondering why they should learn the real thing when Excel can do it for them anyway; but its Excel teachings follow the incomplete style of the book, so there's little chance of improving your Excel skills either. To be fair, on page 671 it lets you in on a brilliant secret: that you can obtain help from Excel by "left-clicking" on the help bar...but even fails to mention the F1 key...par for the course!

At worst, the questions at the end of each chapter (which affect ones GPA and entire future) vary just enough with the examples in the chapter, that it is impossible for the student to solve them without using outside means, like contacting the professor 24/7 which I may have to.

If you think I'm being unfair or have any bias, I'll put it to you this way: Suppose you had never driven a car before, and I wrote a book on how to open the door, turn the key, put it in drive, etc. and then gave you an exam on how to rebuild the engine.

I'm so disgusted with this book, I'd rather be spending this semester in North Korea, where I'd definitely learn more.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars AWFUL EXAMPLE of a TEXTBOOK!, January 25, 2005

By 

M. Jones "student" (GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Engineering Economy (Hardcover)

This book is awful, as an introduction into economics its hard to understand and there are no good examples for the problems. Also you must know the secrets of using the tables and formula's (its a secret because they really dont explain EXACTLY HOW to use this to your best advantage. This book is not worth the money or the paper that its printed on! Do your self a favor if you use this book--buy the Schaum's outline go with it, Schaum's does what this book could only hope to do ---> TEACH you the material!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculous, January 20, 2007

By 

lume "blight" (Johnstown, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Engineering Economy (McGraw-Hill Series in Industrial Engineering and Management) (Hardcover)

I think there is probably a chance that this is the most poorly written textbook I've ever encountered.

I was going to hold off giving it a bad review until I got through the class, but at this rate I'm not even totally sure I will. I've just re-read the difference between nominal and effective interest for (no hyperbole) the 10th time, and I'm no closer to understanding it. Bad examples, useless derivations, poor explaining. I only wish I could give it a zero.