On 12/31/12,Heaton Industries Inc.reported retained earnings of $675,000 on its balance sheet,and it reported that it had $172,500 of net income during the year.On its previous balance sheet,at 12/31/11,the company had reported $555,000 of retained earnings.No shares were repurchased during 2012.How much in dividends did Heaton pay during 2012?

A) $47,381
B) $49,875
C) $52,500
D) $55,125

Retained Earnings

Profits that a company has earned to date, less any dividends or other distributions paid to shareholders.

Dividends

Payments made by a corporation to its shareholder members. It is the portion of corporate profits paid out to stockholders.

Net Income

The total profit of a company after all expenses and taxes have been deducted from revenue, indicating the company's bottom line.