Comparing Three Depreciation Methods

Dexter Industries purchased packaging equipment on January 8 for $306,000. The equipment was expected to have a useful life of three years, or 7,800 operating hours, and a residual value of $25,200. The equipment was used for 3,120 hours during Year 1, 2,418 hours in Year 2, and 2,262 hours in Year 3.

Required:

1. Determine the amount of depreciation expense for the three years ending December 31, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, 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.

Note: For all methods, round the answer 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?