Final answer:
The most likely date the company that produces screens for smartphones began operations, assuming a typical fiscal year, is January 1 of the same year.
Step-by-step explanation:
The company that produces screens for use in various smartphones has reported information at December 31. To determine when the company began operations, one would need additional context such as fiscal year definitions or specific company documentation. However, without further context, the most common assumption is that a company reports at the end of its fiscal year and thus began operations at the start of that fiscal period. Therefore, if we assume the fiscal year aligns with the calendar year, the most likely answer is 3) January 1 of the same year. If the company begins operations on the first day of the calendar year, December 31 would be the end of its first year of operation.