Answer: 288,950 shares
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of shares to use is:
= Beginning stock + Stock dividend - Stock retired
Stock dividend:
= 260,000 * 12%
= 31,200 shares
Stock retired:
= 9,000 * 3/12 months because it was retired in October
= 2,250 shares
Number of shares:
=260,000 + 31,200 - 2,250
= 288,950 shares