Ratio 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 $$368,900$ and $$322,800$ for the current and previous years, respectively.

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

Current year

Previous year

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

Current year

Previous year

c$.$ The ratio of liabilities to stockholders' equity has

and the number of times bond interest charges were earned has

C

from the previous year. These results are the combined result of a

income before income taxes

and

: interest expense in the current year compared to the previous year.