The contribution margin is the:

a. amount by which sales exceed fixed costs.

b. difference between sales and total expenses.

c. difference between sales and operating income.

d. difference between sales and total variable expense.

e. difference between variable expense and fixed expense.

Use the following information for 15-9 and 15-10.

Corleone Company produces a single product with a price of $15, variable costs per unit of $12, and fixed costs of $9,000.