Zodiac Corporation uses the weighted-average method in its process costing system. The first processing department, the Welding Department, started the month with 18,000 units in its beginning work in process inventory that were 10% complete with respect to conversion costs. The conversion cost in this beginning work in process inventory was $16,200. An additional 84,000 units were started into production during the month. There were 17,000 units in the ending work in process inventory of the Welding Department that were 70% complete with respect to conversion costs. A total of $836,880 in conversion costs were incurred in the department during the month. The cost per equivalent unit for conversion costs for the month is closest to:

A. $8.286

* B. $9,000

* C. $8,804

* D. $9,963