$[$The following information applies to the questions displayed below.$]$

Lydex Company's financial statements for the last two years are as follows:

The following financial data and ratios are typical of companies in Lydex Company's industry:

Required:

To assess the company's performance in terms of debt management and profitability, compute the following for this year and last

ear:

Note: Round your "Percentage" answers to $1$ decimal place and other answers to $2$ decimal places.

a$.$ The times interest earned ratio.

b$.$ The debt$-$to$-$equity ratio.

c$.$ The gross margin percentage.

d$.$ The return on total assets. $($Total assets at the beginning of last year were $$13,130,000.)$

e$.$ The return on equity. $($Stockholders$\text{'}$ equity at the beginning of last year totaled $$8,257,550.$ There has been no change in

common stock over the last two years.$)$

f$.$ Is the company's financial leverage positive or negative?