Final answer:
To find the depreciation expense in year 3 using the units of activity depreciation method, calculate the total depreciable cost and the depreciation per unit, then multiply by the year 3 usage. The result is a depreciation expense of $5,250 for the third year, which matches none of the provided options.
Step-by-step explanation:
The units of activity depreciation method calculates depreciation based on the number of units the asset is expected to produce or the number it's used over its useful life. To determine the depreciation expense for year 3, first, we'll need to calculate the total units of activity over the expected life of the truck and then find the depreciation per unit. Finally, we'll calculate the year 3 depreciation expense by multiplying the annual activity by the depreciation per unit.
The problem gives the following information:
- Initial cost of the truck: $15,000
- Trade-in value (residual value) after 4 years: $3,000
- Total expected usage in kilometers: 20,000 km (Year 1) + 25,000 km (Year 2) + 35,000 km (Year 3) = 80,000 km
- Usage in Year 3: 35,000 km
First, we calculate the total depreciable cost of the truck:
Depreciable cost = Initial cost - Residual value = $15,000 - $3,000 = $12,000
Then, we determine the depreciation per unit:
Depreciation per unit = Depreciable cost / Total expected units of activity
= $12,000 / 80,000 km
= $0.15 per km
Finally, we calculate the depreciation expense for Year 3:
Depreciation expense = Depreciation per unit x Year 3 activity
= $0.15 per km x 35,000 km
= $5,250
Therefore, the correct answer is (b) None of the other states are correct, as the nearest value to the calculated depreciation expense of $5,250 is not provided as an option.