Lyell Company started a newspaper delivery business on January 1, 2008. On that date, the company purchased a small pickup truck for $14,000. Lyell planned to depreciate the truck over three years and assumed an $800 residual value. During 2008 and 2009, Lyell’s business expanded. On January 1, 2009, Lyell purchased a second truck, identical to the first. On January 1, 2010, Lyell purchased a third truck, again identical to the first two. During 2010, Lyell’s growth leveled off. However, on January 1, 2011, Lyell bought another truck to replace the one (purchased in 2008) that had just worn out. All trucks purchased cost the same amount as the first truck.

Instructions:
1. Compute depreciation expense for 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 using the following:
(a) Straight-line method
(b) Sum-of-the-years’-digits method
2. What general conclusions can be drawn from your calculations in (1)?