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

Current Year Prior Year

Accounts payable $$426,000$ $$128,000$

Current maturities of serial bonds payable $280,000280,000$

Serial bonds payable, $10\%1,160,0001,440,000$

Common stock, $$1$ par value $70,00080,000$

Paid$-$in capital in excess of par $680,000690,000$

Retained earnings $2,360,0001,870,000$

The income before income tax expense was $$532,800$ and $$466,200$ 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 fill in the blank $1$

Prior year fill in the blank $2$

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

Current year fill in the blank $3$

Prior year fill in the blank $4$

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

and the times interest earned ratio has

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.