Darden Corporation uses the weighted$-$average method in its process costing system. The first processing department, the Welding Department, started the month with $20,400$ units in its beginning work in process inventory that were $10\%$ complete with respect to conversion costs. The conversion cost in this beginning work in process inventory was $$22,200.$ An additional $96,000$ units were started into production during the month. There were $29,000$ units in the ending work in process inventory of the Welding Department that were $70\%$ complete with respect to conversion costs. A total of $$848,880$ in conversion costs were incurred in the department during the month. The cost per equivalent unit for conversion costs for the month is closest to:

Multiple Choice

$$8\mathrm{.}088$

$$10\mathrm{.}686$

$$9\mathrm{.}987$

$$11\mathrm{.}400$