(The following information applies to the questions displayed below.] Simon Company's year-end balance sheets follow. Current Yr 1 Yr Ago 2 Yrs Ago At December 31 Assets Cash Accounts receivable, net Merchandise inventory Prepaid expenses Plant assets, net Total assets Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable Long-term notes payable secured by mortgages on plant assets Common stock, $10 par value Retained earnings Total liabilities and equity $ 31,800 87,300 110,000 10,550 280,000 $519,650 $ 36,250 $ 38,400 62,500 49,500 82,800 54,000 9, 350 4,800 257,500 230,000 $448, 400 $ 376,700 $128, 400 $ 74,750 $ 50,200 95,500 161,500 134, 250 $519,650 99,000 82,400 161,500 161,500 113, 150 82,600 $448, 400 $ 376,700 The company's income statements for the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Sales Cost of goods sold Other operating expenses Interest expense Income tax expense Total costs and expenses Net income Earnings per share Current Yr $715,000 $421,850 221,650 11,300 9,600 664,400 $ 50, 600 $ 3.13 1 Yr Ago $630,000 $396, 900 144,900 12, 700 8,650 563, 150 $ 66.850 For both the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, compute the following ratios: (3-a) Return on total assets (3-b) Based on return on total assets, did Simon's operating efficiency improve or worsen in the Current Year versus 1 Year Ago