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?