In the context of this series of interconnected finance-related queries and the additional information provided by the pretext, table data, and posttext from a company's financial filings, please provide a response to the final question. This may require extracting information from the context and performing mathematical calculations. Please take into account the information provided in the preceding questions and their answers when formulating your response:
Context: republic services , inc . notes to consolidated financial statements 2014 ( continued ) 12 . share repurchases and dividends share repurchases share repurchase activity during the years ended december 31 , 2018 and 2017 follows ( in millions except per share amounts ) : . <table class='wikitable'><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>2018</td><td>2017</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>number of shares repurchased</td><td>10.7</td><td>9.6</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>amount paid</td><td>$ 736.9</td><td>$ 610.7</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>weighted average cost per share</td><td>$ 69.06</td><td>$ 63.84</td></tr></table> as of december 31 , 2018 , there were no repurchased shares pending settlement . in october 2017 , our board of directors added $ 2.0 billion to the existing share repurchase authorization that now extends through december 31 , 2020 . share repurchases under the program may be made through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable federal securities laws . while the board of directors has approved the program , the timing of any purchases , the prices and the number of shares of common stock to be purchased will be determined by our management , at its discretion , and will depend upon market conditions and other factors . the share repurchase program may be extended , suspended or discontinued at any time . as of december 31 , 2018 , the remaining authorized purchase capacity under our october 2017 repurchase program was $ 1.1 billion . dividends in october 2018 , our board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $ 0.375 per share . cash dividends declared were $ 468.4 million , $ 446.3 million and $ 423.8 million for the years ended december 31 , 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively . as of december 31 , 2018 , we recorded a quarterly dividend payable of $ 121.0 million to shareholders of record at the close of business on january 2 , 2019 . 13 . earnings per share basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to republic services , inc . by the weighted average number of common shares ( including vested but unissued rsus ) outstanding during the period . diluted earnings per share is based on the combined weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding , which include , where appropriate , the assumed exercise of employee stock options , unvested rsus and unvested psus at the expected attainment levels . we use the treasury stock method in computing diluted earnings per share. .
Conversations: 
q0: what is the amount of cash dividend declared in 2018? 468.4
q1: what about in 2017? 446.3
q2: what is the sum for these years? 914.7
q3: how about the cash dividend declared in 2016? 423.8
q4: what is the sum for these three years? 1338.5
q5: what is the net change in the weighted average cost per share from 2017 to 2018? 5.22
Question: what percentage change does this represent?
Answer: