Number of times interest charges are earned OBJ. 6 Averill Products Inc. reported the following on the company’s income statement in 2016 and 2015:

2016 2015 Interest expense $ 440,000 $ 400,000 Income before income tax expense 5,544,000 4,400,000

a. Determine the number of times interest charges are earned for 2016 and 2015. Round to one decimal place.

b. Is the number of times interest charges are earned improving or declining?