An accelerated method of depreciation in which the rate is a multiple of the straight-line rate, which is applied each year to the undepreciated cost of the asset.

Accelerated depreciation methods result in higher charges to depreciation expense and, therefore, lower reported net income than straight-line depreciation.

When straight-line depreciation is in use, the depreciation rate is simply "1"divided by the "life"(in years) of the assets.