A firm has established a distribution network for the supply of a raw material critical to its manufacturing. Currently there are two origins for this raw material, which must be shipped to three manufacturing plants. The current network has the following characteristics:

CostsPL $1$PL $2$PL $3$SupplyRaw Material S $1$$$6$$$8$$$9400$Raw Material S $2$$$4$$$7$$$3600$Demand$500500500$

$$

The firm has identified two potential sites for a third raw material source; these are identified as Candidate A and Candidate B$.$ From A$,$ the costs to ship would be $$9$ to Plant $1,$ $$10$ to Plant $2,$ and $$12$ to Plant $3.$ From B$,$ these costs would be $$11,$ $$14,$ and $$8.$ The new source, wherever it is located, will have a capacity of $500$ units. Solve with the transportation method.

a$.$ What is the optimal solution with evaluating candidate A$?$ $$[$ Select $]["8,950","9,300","9,700","8,540","1,250"]$

b$.$ What is the optimal solution with evaluating candidate B$?$ $$[$ Select $]["10,000","9,900","8,900","5,500","11,360"]$

c$.$ Which site should be selected? $[$ Select $]["$cannot determine based on the information given", "NONE", $"$A$","$C$","$B$"]$