Dexter Industries purchased packaging equipment on January 8 for $418,600. The equipment was expected to have a useful life of four years, or 6,000 operating hours, and a residual value of $34,600. The equipment was used for 2,100 hours during Year 1, 1,260 hours in Year 2, 1,680 hours in Year 3, and 960 hours in Year 4.

Required:

1. Determine the amount of depreciation expense for the four 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 four years by each method. Round the answer for each year to the nearest whole dollar.

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

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