Dexter Industries purchased packaging equipment on January 8 for $116,600. The equipment was expected to have a useful life of three years, or 20,000 operating hours, and a residual value of $6,600. The equipment was used for 8,700 hours during Year 1, 7,380 hours in Year 2, and 3,920 hours in Year 3. Required: 1. Determine the amount of depreciation expense for the three years ended 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. (Note: For STRAIGHT-LINE ONLY, round the first two years to the nearest whole dollar, then round the third year as necessary. For DECLINING BALANCE ONLY, round the multiplier to five decimal places. Then round the answer for each year to the nearest whole dollar.) 2. What method yields the highest depreciation expense for Year 1

Straight-line method: $36,667 yearly depreciation expense for 3 years.
Unit-of-production method: Year 1 - $47,850, Year 2 - $40,590, Year 3 - $21,560
Double-declining method: Year 1 - $77,737, Year 2 - $25,910, Year 3 - $6,353

Total for 3 years is $110,000 for all the depreciation methods.

Explanation:

(A) Under straight-line method, depreciation expense is (cost - residual value) / Estimated useful life = ($116,600 - $6,600) / 3 years = $36,667 yearly depreciation expense.

Accumulated depreciation for 3 years is $36,667 x 3 years is $110,000.

(B) The unit-of-production method is used when the asset value closely relates to the units of output it is able to produce. It is expressed with the formula below:

(Original Cost - Salvage value) / Estimated production capacity x Units/year

At Year 1, depreciation expense (DE) is: ($116,600 - $6,600) / 20,000 operating hours x 8,700 hours = $47,850

At Year 2, depreciation expense (DE) is: ($116,600 - $6,600) / 20,000 operating hours x 7,380 hours = $40,590

At Year 3, depreciation expense (DE) is: ($116,600 - $6,600) / 20,000 operating hours x 3,920 hours = $21,560

Accumulated depreciation for 3 years is $47,850 +$40,590 + $21,560 = $110,000.

Note that this depreciation method results in higher depreciation charge when the asset is heavily used, at this time, it was in Year 1.

(C) The double-declining method is otherwise known as the reducing balance method and is given by the formula below:

Double declining method = 2 X SLDP X BV

SLDP = straight-line depreciation percentage

BV = Book value

SLDP is 100%/3 years = 33.33%, then 33.33% multiplied by 2 to give 66.67% or 2/3

At Year 1, 66.67% X $116,600 = $77,737

At Year 2, 66.67% X $38,863 ($116,600 - $77,737) = $25,910

At Year 3, 66.67% X $12,953 ($38,863 - $25,910) = $8,636. This depreciation will decrease the book value of the asset below its salvage value $12,953 - $8,636 = $4,317 < $6,600. Depreciation will only be allowed up to the point where the book value = salvage value. Consequently the depreciation for Year 3 will be $6,353.

Accumulated depreciation for 3 years is $77,737 + $25,910 + $6,353 = $110,000.