a$.$ Assume that only purchasing costs are being considered and machines operate $10$ hours a day $250$ days per year;

a$1.$ Which machine would have the lowest total costs? Blank $1$

a$2.$ How many of that machine would be needed Blank $2$

b$.$ Consider this additional information: the machines differ in terms of hourly operating costs; The A machines have an hourly operating cost of $$10$ each, B machines have an hourly operating cost of $$11$ each, and C machines have an hourly operating cost of $$12$ each. Which alternative would

b$1.$ Which machine would have the lowest total costs? Blank $3$

b$2.$ How many of that machine would be needed Blank $4$