$[$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 $ $33,256$ $ $37,348$ $ $38,531$

Accounts receivable, net $94,49568,02751,374$

Merchandise inventory $119,99887,24954,714$

Prepaid expenses $10,28910,3044,367$

Plant assets, net $294,564273,453240,214$

Total assets $ $552,602$ $ $476,381$ $ $389,200$

Liabilities and Equity

Accounts payable $ $140,350$ $ $78,898$ $ $51,888$

Long$-$term notes payable $104,928112,85588,594$

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

Retained earnings $144,824122,12886,218$

Total liabilities and equity $ $552,602$ $ $476,381$ $ $389,200$

The company$$s income statements for the current year and one year ago, follow.

For Year Ended December $31$ Current Year $1$ Year Ago

Sales $ $718,383$ $ $566,893$

Cost of goods sold $ $438,214$ $ $368,480$

Other operating expenses $222,699143,424$

Interest expense $12,21313,039$

Income tax expense $9,3398,503$

Total costs and expenses $682,465533,446$

Net income $ $35,918$ $ $33,447$

Earnings per share $ $2\mathrm{.}21$ $ $2\mathrm{.}06$

For both the current year and one year ago, compute the following ratios:

$(1)$ Compute debt and equity ratio for the current year and one year ago.