During 2017, Paul Company discovered that the ending inventories reported on its financial statements were incorrect by the following amounts:

2015 $ 80,000 overstated

2016 65,000 understated

Paul uses the periodic inventory system to ascertain year-end quantities that are converted to dollar amounts using the FIFO cost method. Prior to any adjustments for these errors and ignoring income taxes,

Pauls retained earnings at January 1, 2017, would be

a) correct

b) $65,000 understated

c) $15,000 overstated

d) $145,000 understated.