Magic Realm, Incorporated, has developed a new fantasy board game. The company sold $48,500$ games last year at a selling price of $$64$ per game. Fixed expenses associated with the game total $$873,000$ per year, and variable expenses are $$44$ per game. Production of the game is entrusted to a printing contractor. Variable expenses consist mostly of payments to this contractor.

Required:

$1-$a$.$ Prepare a contribution format income statement for the game last year.

$1-$b$.$ Compute the degree of operating leverage.

$2.$ Management is confident that the company can sell $61,595$ games next year $($an increase of $13,095$ games, or $27\%,$ over last year$).$ Given this assumption:

a$.$ What is the expected percentage increase in net operating income for next year?

b$.$ What is the expected amount of net operating income for next year? $($Do not prepare an income statement; use the degree of operating leverage to compute your answer.$)$