Suppose a firm's tax rate is 25%. a. What effect would a $9.67 million operating expense have on this year's earnings? What effect would it have on next year's earnings? b. What effect would a $9.10 million capital expense have on this year's earnings if the capital is depreciated at a rate of $1.82 million per year for five years? effect would it have on next year's earnings? a. What effect would a $9.67 million operating expense have on this year's earnings? Earnings would increase (decline) by $ million. (Round to two decimal places, and use a negative number for a decline.) What effect would it have on next year's earnings? (Select the best choice below.) A. Next year's earnings will be affected by an increase of $2.42 million. B. There would be no effect on next year's earnings. C. Next year's earnings will be affected by a decline of $2.42 million. D. Next year's earnings will be affected by the same amount.