Shari Patel of the controllers office of Diamond Corporation was given the assignment of determining the basic and diluted earnings per share values for the year ended December 31, 2017. Patel has gathered the following information:

1. The company is authorized to issue 8 million common shares. As at December 31, 2016, 2 million shares had been issued and were outstanding

2. The per share market prices of the common shares on selected dates were as followed:

Price per Share

July 1, 2016 $20.00

Jan 01, 2017 21.00

April 01, 2017 25.00

July 01, 2017 11.00

Aug 01, 2017 10.50

Nov 01, 2017 9.00

Dec 31, 2017 10.00

3. A total of 700 000 shares of an authorized 1.2 million convertible preferred shares had been issued on July 1, 2016.The shares were issued at $25 and have a cumulative dividend of $3 per share. The shares are convertible into common shares at the rate of one convertible preferred share for one common share. The rate of conversion is to be automatically adjusted for stock splits and stock dividends. Dividends are paid quarterly on September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30.

4. Diamond Corporation is subject to a 30% income tax rate

5. The after-tax net income for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $11 550 000

The following specific activities took place during 2017:

1. January 1: A 5% common stock dividend was issued. The dividend had been declared on December 01, 2016 to all shareholders of record on December 29, 2016.

2. April 1: A total of 400 000 shares of the $3 convertible preferred shares were converted into common shares. The company issued new common shares and retired the preferred shares. This was only conversion of the preferred shares during 2017.

3. July 1: A 2-for-1 split of the common shares became effective on this date. The board of directors has authorized the split on June 01

4. August 1: A total of 300 000 common shares were issued to acquire a factory building.

5. November 1: A total of 24 000 common shares were purchased on the open market at $9 per share and cancelled

6. Cash dividends to common shareholders were declared and paid as follows:

April 15: $0.30 per share

October 15: $0.20 per share

7. Cash dividends to preferred shareholders were declared and paid as scheduled

Instructions:

Determine the number of shares to use in calculating diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2017