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A contractor owns a crane that cost $120,000 with an expected life of 8 years and $20,000 salvage value. Using straight-line depreciation, what is the hourly ownership cost if the crane operates 1,200 hours annually?

Correct Answer

A) $10.42

Annual depreciation = ($120,000 - $20,000) ÷ 8 years = $12,500. Hourly depreciation cost = $12,500 ÷ 1,200 hours = $10.42.

Answer Options
A
$10.42
B
$12.50
C
$15.00
D
$8.33

Why This Is the Correct Answer

Option A correctly applies straight-line depreciation formula. The depreciable amount is $120,000 - $20,000 = $100,000. Annual depreciation is $100,000 ÷ 8 years = $12,500. Hourly ownership cost is $12,500 ÷ 1,200 hours = $10.42. This represents the depreciation cost per operating hour, which is a key component of equipment ownership costs.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option B: $12.50

This answer of $12.50 likely results from dividing the total cost ($120,000) by 8 years to get $15,000 annually, then dividing by 1,200 hours. This incorrectly includes the salvage value in the depreciation calculation, which should be subtracted from the initial cost before calculating annual depreciation.

Option C: $15.00

This answer of $15.00 appears to come from dividing the annual cost ($15,000) by 1,000 hours instead of 1,200 hours, or using incorrect annual operating hours. It also fails to properly account for salvage value in the depreciation calculation.

Option D: $8.33

This answer of $8.33 likely results from calculation errors, possibly dividing $100,000 by 12,000 hours (10 years × 1,200 hours) instead of using the correct 8-year life span, or other mathematical mistakes in the depreciation formula application.

Memory Technique

Remember 'DASH' for Depreciation: Depreciable amount = Cost minus Salvage, Annual depreciation = Depreciable ÷ Life years, Subtract salvage first, Hourly rate = Annual ÷ operating hours.

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