Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow

At December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago 2 Yrs Ago Assets Cash $ 31,960 $ 37,359 $ 39,313 Accounts receivable, net 89 , 500 62 , 100 50 , 100 Merchandise inventory 114, 500 82,000 59,000 Prepaid expenses 10,292 9, 807 4,368 Plant assets, net 306, 505 285 , 249 252 , 419 Total assets $552 , 757 $ 476, 515 $ 405 , 200 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable $134 , 884 $ 78,920 $ 52, 417 Long-term notes payable secured by mortgages on plant assets 101, 840 107 , 406 87, 758 Common stock, $10 par value 162, 500 162 ,500 162, 500 Retained earnings 153,533 127, 689 102 , 525 Total liabilities and equity $552 , 757 $ 476 , 515 $ 405, 200 The company's income statements for the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, follow. Assume that all sales are on credit: For Year Ended December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago Sales $ 718 , 584 $ 567, 053 Cost of goods sold $ 438, 336 $ 368, 584 Other operating expenses 222, 761 143, 464 Interest expense 12, 216 13, 042 Income tax expense 9, 342 8, 506 Total costs and expenses 682 , 655 533, 596 Net income $ 35,929 $ 33, 457 Earnings per share 2. 21 S 2.06(3-a) Compute inventory turnover. (3-b) For each ratio, determine if it improved or worsened in the current year. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required 3A Required 3B Compute inventory turnover. Inventory Turnover Choose Numerator: / Choose Denominator: Inventory Turnover Inventory turnover Current Yr: times 1 Yr Ago: times (3-a) Compute inventory turnover. (3-b) For each ratio, determine if it improved or worsened in the current year. Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required 3A Required 3B For each ratio, determine if it improved or worsened in the current year. Inventory turnover