A company purchased equipment on April 1, 2017, for $96,000. The equipment will have a $12,000 salvage value at the end of its 10-year useful life. Using the straight-line method of depreciation, the amount to be recorded as depreciation expense at December 31, 2017, is

a. $6,300.

b. $7,200.

c. $8,400.

d. $9,600.

Explain your answer in detail.