Answer: Option (d) is correct.
Explanation:
Given that,
Operating income = $80,000
Interest expense = $15,000
Average number of shares of outstanding stock during the year = 30,000 shares
Times interest earned ratio = [tex]\frac{Net\ Income\ before\ tax}{Interest\ Expense}[/tex]
=[tex]\frac{80000}{15000}[/tex]
= 5.33
So, the nearest value in the options is 5.0.
Therefore, option (d) is correct.