NumLockNumLockRatio of Liabilities to Stockholders' Equity and Times Interest Earned

The following data were taken from the financial statements of Hunter Inc. for December $31$ of two recent years:

The income before income tax expense was $$480,000$ and $$420,000$ for the current and prior years, respectively.

a$.$ Determine the ratio of liabilities to stockholders' equity at the end of each year. Round to one decimal place.

Current year

Prior year

b$.$ Determine the times interest earned ratio for both years. Round to one decimal place.

Current year

Prior year

c$.$ The ratio of liabilities to stockholders' equity have improved $$ and the times interest earned ratio has

These results are the combined result of a

the previous year.