Larned Company makes a storage box using metal. The company uses a standard costing system. Variable overhead is allocated on the basis of direct material usage $($pounds$).$ Overhead is allocated to units based on expected production of $15,200$ units. Larned maintains a materials inventory, so the amount of material used is not necessarily the same as the amount of material purchased in any one month.

The standard cost sheet for a single box follows:

Direct material $0\mathrm{.}5$ pound @ $$8$ $ $4\mathrm{.}00$

Direct labor $0\mathrm{.}2$ hours @ $$306\mathrm{.}00$

Variable overhead $0\mathrm{.}5$ pound @ $$42\mathrm{.}00$

Fixed overhead $3\mathrm{.}00$

$ $15\mathrm{.}00$

March financial results show that the average purchase price of metal was $$9\mathrm{.}05$ per pound. The purchase price variance was $$1,710.$ The variable overhead efficiency variance was $$1,370$ favorable. Good output produced totaled $13,700$ units.

Required:

a$.$ How many pounds of metal were purchased in March?

b$.$ What was the direct materials efficiency variance in March?

Note: Indicate the effect of this variance by selecting $"$F$"$ for favorable, or $"$U$"$ for unfavorable. If there is no effect, do not select either option.

c$.$ How many pounds of metal were used in March?