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

Simon Company$$s year$-$end balance sheets follow.

At December $31$ Current Year $1$ Year Ago $2$ Years Ago

Assets

Cash $ $34,773$ $ $40,647$ $ $40,696$

Accounts receivable, net $90,00062,50050,800$

Merchandise inventory $113,00084,00050,000$

Prepaid expenses $11,19810,6704,522$

Plant assets, net $323,243295,471253,082$

Total assets $ $572,214$ $ $493,288$ $ $399,100$

Liabilities and Equity

Accounts payable $ $146,756$ $ $85,867$ $ $54,262$

Long$-$term notes payable $110,804116,86090,847$

Common stock, $$10$ par value $162,500162,500162,500$

Retained earnings $152,154128,06191,491$

Total liabilities and equity $ $572,214$ $ $493,288$ $ $399,100$

The company$$s income statements for the current year and one year ago follow. Assume that all sales are on credit:

For Year Ended December $31$ Current Year $1$ Yea$(1-$a$)$ Compute days' sales uncollected.

$(1-$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 $1A$

Required $1B$

Compute days' sales uncollected.r Ago

Sales $ $743,878$ $ $587,013$

Cost of goods sold $ $453,766$ $ $381,558$

Other operating expenses $230,602148,514$

Interest expense $12,64613,501$

Income tax expense $9,6708,805$

Total costs and expenses $706,684552,378$

Net income $ $37,194$ $ $34,635$

Earnings per share $ $2\mathrm{.}29$ $ $2\mathrm{.}13$

$(1-$a$)$ Compute days' sales uncollected.

$(1-$b$)$ For each ratio, determine if it improved or worsened in the current year.