Is there any reason to use (debt/equity) formula for calculating gearing ratio rather than (debt/(debt+equity) formula if the question doesn’t specify to use the (debt/equity) formula? I have come across a past question (Mawair Co(Sept/Dec17)) in which this formula was used but the question didn’t specify using any specific formula The only note in the question was “For calculation purposes, all loan notes should be treated as debt”