Alladin Company purchased Machine #201 on May 1, 2014. The following information relating to Machine #201 was gathered at the end of May.

Price $118,150

Credit terms 2/10, n/30

Freight-in $ 1,112

Preparation and installation costs $ 5,282

Labor costs during regular production operations $14,595

It is expected that the machine could be used for 10 years, after which the salvage value would be zero. Alladin intends to use the machine for only 8 years, however, after which it expects to be able to sell it for $2,085. The invoice for Machine #201 was paid May 5, 2014. Alladin uses the calendar year as the basis for the preparation of financial statements.

a) Compute the depreciation expense for the years indicated using the following methods.

1) Straight-line method for 2014 $

2) Sum-of-the-years'-digits method for 2015 $

3) Double-declining-balance method for 2014 $

b) Suppose Kate Crow, the president of Alladin, tells you that because the company is a new organization, she expects it will be several years before production and sales reach optimum levels. She asks you to recommend a depreciation method that will allocate less of the companys depreciation expense to the early years and more to later years of the asset's lives.

What method would you recommend?