Merriman Corp. had $50,000$ shares of common stock outstanding on $1/1/19.$ During $2019,$ they had the following stock transactions occur:

April $1$: Purchased $2,000$ shares of treasury stock.

June $1$: Declared a $4\%$ stock dividend.

Sept $1$: Issued $6,000$ shares of common stock.

What should be the weighted$-$average number of common shares outstanding used in the calculation of simple $($or basic$)$ EPS for $2019?($Round all calculations to the nearest whole share and round time outstanding to the nearest whole month$)$

Select one:

a$.55,021$

b$.55,884$

c$.54,046$

d$.25,463$

e$.52,440$