Which depreciation method is likely to yield the smallest expense in the early years?

The straight-line depreciation method allocates the same amount of expense each year over the useful life of an asset, making it a consistent and predictable method for reflecting depreciation. However, it does not result in the smallest expense in the early years compared to other methods.

In fact, methods such as double-declining-balance depreciation and sum-of-the-years'-digits depreciation accelerate the expense recognition in the earlier years of the asset's life. These methods front-load the expense because they are structured to take a larger portion of the asset's cost as an expense in the early years, reflecting the idea that many assets lose their usefulness or value more quickly shortly after acquisition.

The units-of-production method ties expense to the actual usage of the asset, which can vary significantly based on the operations and thus does not consistently yield the smallest expense early on.

Therefore, among the listed choices, the straight-line method does not result in the smallest early-year expense; instead, methods that accelerate depreciation are designed for that purpose. The mechanics of the straight-line method provide a steady and uniform expense without the variability seen in the other methods.