Wildhorse Company acquired a plant asset at the beginning of Year 1. The asset has an estimated service life of 5 years. An employee has prepared depreciation schedules for this asset using three different methods to compare the results of using one method with the results of using other methods. You are to assume that the following schedules have been correctly prepared for this asset using (1) the straight-line method, (2) the sum-of-the-years'-digits method, and (3) the double-declining-balance method.
Year
Straight-Line
Sum-if-the-Years'- Digits
Double Declining Balance
1 $9,000 $15,000 $20,000
2 9,000 12,000 12,000
3 9,000 9,000 7,200
4 9,000 6,000 4,320
5 9,000
3,000
1,480
Total $45,000
a. What is the cost of the asset being depreciated?
b. What amount, if any, was used in the depreciation calculations for the salvage value for this asset?
c. Which method will produce the highest charge to income in Year 1?
d. Which method will produce the highest charge to income in Year 4?
e. Which method will produce the highest book value for the asset at the end of Year 3?
f. If the asset is sold at the end of Year 3, which method would yield the highest gain (or lowest loss) on disposal of the asset?