Required information [The following information applies to the questions displayed below.] Simon Company’s year-end balance sheets follow. At December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago 2 Yrs Ago Assets Cash $ 35,257 $ 41,213 $ 43,368 Accounts receivable, net 89,100 62,300 51,200 Merchandise inventory 114,500 83,000 57,000 Prepaid expenses 11,354 10,818 4,819 Plant assets, net 359,569 328,341 290,613 Total assets $ 609,780 $ 525,672 $ 447,000 Liabilities and Equity Accounts payable $ 148,799 $ 87,062 $ 57,824 Long-term notes payable secured by mortgages on plant assets 112,346 118,486 96,811 Common stock, $10 par value 162,500 162,500 162,500 Retained earnings 186,135 157,624 129,865 Total liabilities and equity $ 609,780 $ 525,672 $ 447,000 The company’s income statements for the Current Year and 1 Year Ago, follow. Assume that all sales are on credit: For Year Ended December 31 Current Yr 1 Yr Ago Sales $ 792,714 $ 625,550 Cost of goods sold $ 483,556 $ 406,608 Other operating expenses 245,741 158,264 Interest expense 13,476 14,388 Income tax expense 10,305 9,383 Total costs and expenses 753,078 588,643 Net income $ 39,636 $ 36,907 Earnings per share $ 2.44 $ 2.27 (1-a) Compute days' sales uncollected. (1-b) For each ratio, determine if it improved or worsened in the current year.