How to Find Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

The TI-83 Plus and TI-84 Plus Calculators have a built-in function to find Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of a financial investment. Let’s work through an example.

Example: Find the internal rate of return (IRR) on an investment that costs $135,000. In year 2, it returns $50,000. In year 3, it returns $40,000. In year 4, it returns $30,000. In year 5, it returns $50,000.

To solve the problem for IRR:

  1. Press [2nd][FINANCE]. Choose 8:irr(.
  2. For this problem, enter irr(-135000, {50000, 40000, 30000}, {2, 1, 1,}).
  3. Press [ENTER] to calculate the IRR. You should get an IRR of 10.07%
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15 Responses to “How to Find Internal Rate of Return (IRR)”

  1. Sandra Says:

    TI-84 steps are a little different than using TI-83: To find IRR with TI-84:

    Use these entries irr(-135000,{50000,40000,30000,50000},{1,1,1,1}) = 10.07063094

  2. Resham Says:

    Given the cash inflows are 50,000 in the first 2 yrs, why does the 50000 come after 30000 in {50000,40000,30000,50000} component of the function?

    Shouldn’t it be irr(-135000,{50000,50000,40000,30000},{1,1,1,1}) instead?
    > This function yields an IRR of 10.86% instead of 10.07%

  3. bill Says:

    I use your exact notation and my answer is 10.86%

  4. bill Says:

    how do you put in the commas and stuff? using a ti 83 plus. thanks.

  5. bill Says:

    nm i figured it out…but what do the {2, 1, 1,}). represent?

  6. Come one guys Says:

    the 2,1,1 represent the number of CONSECUTIVE payments for that ammount indicating that 50 000 is returned in each of the first two years. Obviously incorrect.

    the function as my prof explained it should be -135000,{50000,40000,30000,50000}

    yeilding 10.07 % Sandras steps for entry are correct. When all of the payment’s are applied only once consecutivley you do not need to enter in the second series as 1 is the default.

    The initial notation for the TI84 would yeild 10.86 not 10.07 as the poster stated.

  7. matt Says:

    can anyone tell me how to figure out IRR on a TI 82 plz?

  8. Ryan Says:

    Thank you a bunch… this really helped me out.. i didn’t have a clue

  9. Daniel Says:

    If we were to graph this on a line it may give it more sense (Following the the example and answer your professor provided) :

    AMT 0 50000 40000 30000 50000

    YR 1 2 3 4 5

    The first year yeilded $50,000 the 2nd yr. yeilded $50, 000, the 3rd yr. yielded $40,000.

    IRR{-135000,{50000,40000,30000,50000}, {1,1,1,1} =10.07063 or 10.07 %

    Resham example:

    AMT 50000 50000 40000 30000

    YR 1 2 3 4

    irr(-135000,{50000,50000,40000,30000},{2,1,1}) =10.86%

    I hope this helps.

  10. Jay Says:

    Finance Calculations on TI-84

    Internal Rate of Return:
    irr ( initial cost , cashflow list )

    Example: initial outlay on a piece if equipment was $200,000. Over the next 3 years, it generates $50k, $100k, and $150k respectively. The market rate of return is 10%.

    Therefore, enter the cashflow generated into a List;
    [STAT] > 1:Edit… > Enter the cashflows into the list L1
    L1 =
    50000
    100000
    150000

    You can plug in L1 into the calculator by pressing…
    [2ND] > [STAT] (list) > 1:L1

    Your IRR calc should look like this:
    = irr ( -200000 , L1 )
    = 19.44%

  11. Jason Says:

    PV calculations for NPV and IRR are easier for me if I use STAT EDIT and enter the cash flows under L1. This eliminates all the commas and other brackets it also reduces the chance for error.
    For example.. you could list payments of 50k at the end of year 1, 40K at the end of year 2, 30K at the end of year 3, 50K at the end of year 4 under L1. After cash flows are entered quit out and get back in to apps finance IRR then enter… IRR(-135000,L1) to get 10.07%.

    L2 can also be used for cash flow frequency.

  12. Blake Says:

    Thanks guys I have a finance final tomo and need to know how to do this

  13. Anna Says:

    I have a TI-83. “Press [2nd][FINANCE]” I can not find the word “Finance” in my calculator. Can someone please help me out! Thanks!

  14. To Anna Says:

    hit Apps (purple button) –> 1. Finance, dunno why that guy said 2nd finance.

  15. rosa Says:

    I followed the instruction on the top. 135000 investment….. and I get an err: syntax. What am I doing wrong?

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