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Final answer:Dollar signs in financial statements are placed beside the first number in a column and next to the last number if it is a total, following GAAP guidelines for clarity without overcrowding the statement with repeated symbols.Explanation:In financial statements, dollar signs are used for presentation and clarity. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) suggest that dollar signs should be used sparingly to avoid clutter. Typically, a dollar sign is placed beside the first number in a column to indicate the unit of measurement, and also beside the last number in that column if there is a total.This is in keeping with the professional appearance and readability of financial statements. It's also common to place a dollar sign next to major figures like the total assets or total liabilities on a balance sheet. However, not every number in a column will have a dollar sign; that would make the statement too congested and harder to read. Additionally, in the case of index numbers, no dollar signs or other units are attached to them, as index numbers represent ratios or percentages, not direct monetary values....