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

Markus Company$$s common stock sold for $$5\mathrm{.}50$ per share at the end of this year. The company paid a common stock dividend of $$0\mathrm{.}77$ per share this year. It also provided the following data excerpts from this year$$s financial statements:

Ending Balance Beginning Balance

Cash $ $54,500$ $ $47,200$

Accounts receivable $ $100,000$ $ $71,200$

Inventory $ $79,000$ $ $100,000$

Current assets $ $233,500$ $ $218,400$

Total assets $ $857,000$ $ $938,800$

Current liabilities $ $91,500$ $ $100,500$

Total liabilities $ $232,000$ $ $208,800$

Common stock, $$1$ par value $ $171,000$ $ $171,000$

Total stockholders$$ equity $ $625,000$ $ $730,000$

Total liabilities and stockholders$$ equity $ $857,000$ $ $938,800$

This Year

Sales $($all on account$)$ $ $1,195,000$

Cost of goods sold $ $693,100$

Gross margin $ $501,900$

Net operating income $ $338,250$

Interest expense $ $16,500$

Net income $ $225,225$

$15.$ What is the equity multiplier?

Note: Round your answer to $2$ decimal places.