Final answer:
The dividend payout ratio is calculated as the annual dividend amount divided by the annual net income.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dividend payout ratio is calculated as the annual dividend amount divided by the annual net income (option b). The dividend payout ratio measures the percentage of a company's net income that is paid out to shareholders as dividends. For example, if a company has an annual net income of $1 million and pays out $200,000 in dividends, the dividend payout ratio would be 20% ($200,000 / $1,000,000).