Comparing three depreciation methods

Dexter Industries purchased packaging equipment on January 8 for $72,000. The equipment was expected to have a useful life of three years, or 18,000 operating hours, and a residual value of $3,600. The equipment was used for 7,200 hours during Year 1, 5,400 hours in Year 2, and 5,400 hours in Year 3.

Required:

1. Determine the amount of depreciation expense for the three years ending December 31, by (a) the straight-line method, (b) the units-of-activity method, and (c) the double-declining-balance method. Also determine the total depreciation expense for the three years by each method. Round the final answers for each year to the nearest whole dollar.

Depreciation Expense
Year	Straight-Line Method			Units-of-Activity Method			Double-Declining-Balance Method
Year 1		$			$			$
Year 2		$			$			$
Year 3		$			$			$
Total		$			$			$

2. What method yields the highest depreciation expense for Year 1?

3. What method yields the most depreciation over the three-year life of the equipment?