Amy and Lester are partners in operating a store. Without consulting Amy, Lester enters into a contract to purchase $$10,800$ of merchandise for the store. Amy says she did not authorize the order and that she could have purchased the same merchandise for $$7,800.$ Amy refuses to pay for the order. The vendor sues the partners.

a$.$ Must the partnership pay for the merchandise? If yes, how much?

b$.$ Assuming the partnership is a general partnership, can Amy's personal apsets be taken to pay for the merchandise?