Jaderston Corporation uses the weighted-average method in its process costing system. Data concerning the first processing department for the most recent month are listed below:

Beginning work in process inventory:
Units in beginning work in process inventory	3,200
Materials costs	$14,500
Conversion costs	$16,500
Percent complete with respect to materials	60%
Percent complete with respect to conversion	35%
Units started into production during the month	40,100
Units transferred to the next department during the month	38,400
Materials costs added during the month	$706,300
Conversion costs added during the month	$453,400
Ending work in process inventory:
Units in ending work in process inventory	4,900
Percent complete with respect to materials	55%
Percent complete with respect to conversion	50%

Note: Your answers may differ from those offered below due to rounding error. In all cases, select the answer that is the closest to the answer you computed. To reduce rounding error, carry out all computations to at least two decimal places.

The cost per equivalent unit for materials for the month in the first processing department is closest to:

	$16.84
	$16.65
	$17.98
	$17.54