The consolidated statement of earnings of Anonymous Corporation for the year ended
December 31, 2009, is as follows:
Net sales .................... $1,550,010,000
Other income, net .................. 10,898,000
1,560,908,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold ................. 1,237,403,000
Depreciation and amortization .............. 32,229,000
Selling, general, and administrative .......... 178,850,000
Interest ..................... 37,646,000
1,486,128,000
Earnings from continuing operations before income
taxes and equity earnings ................ 74,780,000
Income taxes ..................... 37,394,000
Earnings from continuing operations before equity earnings . 37,386,000
Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
and affiliated companies ............... 27,749,000
Earnings from continuing operations ........... 65,135,000
Earnings (losses) from discontinued operations,
net of applicable income taxes ............. 6,392,000
Net earnings .................... $ 71,527,000

Required
a. Compute the times interest earned for 2009.
b. Compute the times interest earned for 2009, including the equity income in the coverage.
c. What is the impact of including equity earnings from the coverage? Why should equity income be excluded from the times interest earned coverage?