To What Extent Do Engineering Economy Textbooks Still Rely on the Factor Tables

In 2011 The Engineering Economist published a proposition calling for engineering economy teaching to catch up with engineering practice by relying more on spreadsheets and financial calculators. Every example in 7 texts is analyzed for its use of tabulated factors, spreadsheets, or formulas. Our conclusion is that there has been progress in coverage of spreadsheets—but more progress is possible and needed. Moreover, the texts vary enough to suit many but not all instructors. The results will be useful to both teachers and authors, and most importantly to the students they serve. We include examples that instructors can use in a text-independent fashion. We also address the classroom and textbook challenges in shifting the balance between the engineering economy factors and the more modern tools of engineering economy practice.