Dividend growth rate is important to many investors. You are considering investing in a firm after looking at the firm's dividends over a seven-year period. At the end of the year 2002, the firm paid a dividend of $1.15. At year-end 2009, it paid a dividend of $1.84.
What was the average annual growth rate of dividends for this firm?

A) 7.25%
B) 9.86%
C) 6.94%
D) There is not enough information to answer to the question.