The total equipment cost for an addition to a pharmaceutical plant is estimated to be $5,000,000. The percentages provided in the Table represent the average expenditures in other cost phases within the project budget. The total cost for the project is most nearly:

Solution: Calculate the total percentage of the items provided:

Total percentage = 70%

Apply the equation:   

Total Project Cost = Estimated Equipment Cost / (1 - Percent of Other Costs)

Total Project Cost   = $5,000,000/ (1 - .70)     

= $16,666,667