Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. Current Yr 1 Yr Ago 2 Yrs Ago At December 31 Assets Cash Accounts receivable, net Merchandise inventory Prepaid expenses Plant assets, net Total assets Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable Long-term notes payable Common stock, $10 par value Retained earnings Total liabilities and equity $ 31,400 87,800 110,500 10,850 277,000 $517,550 $ 36,000 $ 37,800 61,500 50,500 80,600 52,000 9,350 4,200 253,500 225,000 $440,950 $ 369,500 $128,400 96,500 163,500 129, 150 $517,550 $ 72,750 $ 51,600 100,750 82,800 163,500 163,500 103,950 71,600 $440,950 $ 369,500 The company's income statements for the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Sales Cost of goods sold Other operating expenses Interest expense Income tax expense Total costs and expenses Net income Earnings per share Current Yr $765,000 $466,650 244,800 12,300 9,600 733, 350 $ 31,650 $ 1.94 1 Yr Ago $ 610,000 $390,400 146,400 13,400 8,675 558, 875 $ 51, 125 $ 3.13 For both the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, compute the following ratios: (3-a) Return on total assets. (3-b) Based on return on total assets, did Simon's operating efficiency improve or worsen in the Current Year versus 1 Year Ago