You are short $15$ gasoline futures contracts, established at an initial settle price of $$2\mathrm{.}085$ per gallon, where each contract represents $42,000$ gallons. Your initial margin to establish the position is $$7,425$ per contract and the maintenance margin is $$6,500$ per contract. Over the subsequent four trading days, gasoline settles at $$2\mathrm{.}071,$ $$2\mathrm{.}099,$ $$2\mathrm{.}118,$ and $$2\mathrm{.}146,$ respectively. Assume that a margin call requires you to fund your account back to the initial margin requirement.

a$.$ Compute the balance in your margin account at the end of each of the four trading days

b$.$ Compute your total profit or loss at the end of the trading period.