higher average borrowings . additionally , the recapitalization that occurred late in the first quarter of 2005 resulted in a full year of interest in 2006 as compared to approximately ten months in 2005 . the increase in interest expense in 2005 as compared to 2004 also resulted from the recapitalization in 2005 . income tax expense income tax expense totaled $ 150.2 million , $ 116.1 million and $ 118.3 million for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively . this resulted in an effective tax rate of 37.2% ( 37.2 % ) , 37.2% ( 37.2 % ) and 37.6% ( 37.6 % ) for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively . net earnings net earnings totaled $ 259.1 million , $ 196.6 and $ 189.4 million for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively , or $ 1.37 , $ 1.53 and $ 1.48 per diluted share , respectively . segment results of operations transaction processing services ( in thousands ) .

2006: processing and services revenues: 2458777
cost of revenues: 1914148
gross profit: 544629
selling general and administrative expenses: 171106
research and development costs: 70879
operating income: 302644
2005: processing and services revenues: 1208430
cost of revenues: 904124
gross profit: 304306
selling general and administrative expenses: 94889
research and development costs: 85702
operating income: 123715
2004: processing and services revenues: 892033
cost of revenues: 667078
gross profit: 224955
selling general and administrative expenses: 99581
research and development costs: 54038
operating income: 71336

revenues for the transaction processing services segment are derived from three main revenue channels ; enterprise solutions , integrated financial solutions and international . revenues from transaction processing services totaled $ 2458.8 million , $ 1208.4 and $ 892.0 million for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively . the overall segment increase of $ 1250.4 million during 2006 , as compared to 2005 was primarily attributable to the certegy merger which contributed $ 1067.2 million to the overall increase . the majority of the remaining 2006 growth is attributable to organic growth within the historically owned integrated financial solutions and international revenue channels , with international including $ 31.9 million related to the newly formed business process outsourcing operation in brazil . the overall segment increase of $ 316.4 in 2005 as compared to 2004 results from the inclusion of a full year of results for the 2004 acquisitions of aurum , sanchez , kordoba , and intercept , which contributed $ 301.1 million of the increase . cost of revenues for the transaction processing services segment totaled $ 1914.1 million , $ 904.1 million and $ 667.1 million for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively . the overall segment increase of $ 1010.0 million during 2006 as compared to 2005 was primarily attributable to the certegy merger which contributed $ 848.2 million to the increase . gross profit as a percentage of revenues ( 201cgross margin 201d ) was 22.2% ( 22.2 % ) , 25.2% ( 25.2 % ) and 25.2% ( 25.2 % ) for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively . the decrease in gross profit in 2006 as compared to 2005 is primarily due to the february 1 , 2006 certegy merger , which businesses typically have lower margins than those of the historically owned fis businesses . incremental intangible asset amortization relating to the certegy merger also contributed to the decrease in gross margin . included in cost of revenues was depreciation and amortization of $ 272.4 million , $ 139.8 million , and $ 94.6 million for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively . selling , general and administrative expenses totaled $ 171.1 million , $ 94.9 million and $ 99.6 million for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively . the increase in 2006 compared to 2005 is primarily attributable to the certegy merger which contributed $ 73.7 million to the overall increase of $ 76.2 million . the decrease of $ 4.7 million in 2005 as compared to 2004 is primarily attributable to the effect of acquisition related costs in 2004 . included in selling , general and administrative expenses was depreciation and amortization of $ 11.0 million , $ 9.1 million and $ 2.3 million for 2006 , 2005 and 2004 , respectively. .

Questions:
what was the total of net earnings in 2006, in thousands?
and what was this amount as a portion of the total of processing and services revenues in that year?
and between that year and the previous, what was the variation in the operating income?
how much did this variation represent in relation to that income in 2005, in percentage?

Answers:
259100
10.5%
178929
145%