Simon Company’s year-end balance sheets follow. At December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago 2 Yrs Ago Assets Cash $ 30,200 $ 35,250 $ 37,000 Accounts receivable, net 88,400 62,000 49,000 Merchandise inventory 111,000 81,200 53,500 Prepaid expenses 10,800 9,300 4,800 Plant assets, net 280,000 254,000 225,000 Total assets $ 520,400 $ 441,750 $ 369,300 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable $ 129,200 $ 75,500 $ 51,200 Long-term notes payable secured by mortgages on plant assets 96,000 100,750 81,800 Common stock, $10 par value 163,000 163,000 163,000 Retained earnings 132,200 102,500 73,300 Total liabilities and equity $ 520,400 $ 441,750 $ 369,300 The company’s income statements for the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, follow. For Year Ended December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago Sales $ 725,000 $ 550,000 Cost of goods sold $ 449,500 $ 341,000 Other operating expenses 232,000 126,500 Interest expense 11,200 13,000 Income tax expense 9,350 8,525 Total costs and expenses 702,050 489,025 Net income $ 22,950 $ 60,975 Earnings per share $ 1.41 $ 3.74 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?