$($Related to Checkpoint $11\mathrm{.}2)($Calculating EAC$)$ Barry Boswell is a financial analyst for Dossman Metal Works, Inc. and he is analyzing two alternative configurations for the firm's new plasma cutter shop. The two alternatives, denoted A and B below, will perform the same task, but alternative A will cost $$85,000$ to purchase, while alternative $B$ will cost only $$55,000.$ Moreover, the two alternatives will have very different cash flows and useful lives. The after$-$tax costs for the two projects are as follows:

a$.$ Calculate each project's EAC, given a discount rate of $9$ percent.

b$.$ Which of the alternatives do you think Barry should select? Why?

a$.$ Alternative A$\text{'}$s EAC at a discount rate of $9\%$ is $ $($Round to the nearest cent.$)$

Data table

$\backslash$table$[[$Year$,$Alternative A$,$Alternative B$],[0,$$$(85,000),$$$(55,000)$