A flood destroyed a company$$s warehouse contents on September $12.$ The following information was the only information that was salvaged:

Inventory, beginning: $$28,300$

Purchases for the period: $$17,300$

Sales for the period: $$55,300$

Sales returns for the period: $$730$

The company's average gross profit ratio is $38\%.$ What is the estimated cost of the lost inventory using the gross profit method?

Multiple Choice

$$11,766\mathrm{.}60.$

$$24,863\mathrm{.}40.$

$$28,272\mathrm{.}00.$

$$45,600\mathrm{.}00.$

$$44,600\mathrm{.}00.$