Confused

[[email protected]]

If the speed of X meters per second is equivalent to the speed of Y kilometers per hour, what is Y in terms of X? (1 kilometer=1000 meters)

A. 15x/18
B. 6x/5
C. 18x/5
D. 60x
E. 3600000x

[GMATGuruNY]

If the speed of X meters per second is equivalent to the speed of Y kilometers per hour, what is Y in terms of X? (1 kilometer=1000 meters)

A. 15x/18
B. 6x/5
C. 18x/5
D. 60x
E. 3600000x

Let x = 1000 meters per second.
Since 1000 meters = 1 kilometer, this rate = 1 kilometer per second.
Since there are 3600 seconds in an hour, 1 kilometer per second = 3600 kilometers per hour.
Thus, y = 3600. This is our target.

Now plug x = 1000 into the answer choices to see which yields our target of 3600.
Only C works:
18x/5 = (18*1000)/5 = 3600.

The correct answer is C.

[theCodeToGMAT]

X m/s = Y km/h

Even though X & y are equivalent; they are not yet equal because of different units

For example:
1 Minute = 60 Seconds ..... (this is equivalency)
BUT, that doesnt mean 1==60 ( you need to balance the units)

So,

X ( 3600/1000) km/h = Y km/h
18X/5 = Y

ANSWER [spoiler][C][/spoiler]

[vinay1983]

I had used a similar formula for certain exams

If you want to convert speed given in km/hr, then to get the same in m/s multiply the original speed in km/hr by 5/18

Then to convert from m/s to km/hr multiply m/s by 18/5

Hope it helps!

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

If the speed of X meters per second is equivalent to the speed of Y kilometers per hour, what is Y in terms of X? (1 kilometer=1000 meters)

A. 15x/18
B. 6x/5
C. 18x/5
D. 60x
E. 3600000x

Although I prefer Mitch's method, here's the algebraic approach.

To convert meters/second to km/hour, we must recognize that 1 meter = (1/1000)km and 1 second = (1/3600)hour

So, 1 meter/second = 1 (1/1000)km / (1/3600)hour
= 1 (3600/1000) km/hour
= 1 (36/10) km/hour
= (18/5) km/hour

So, if 1 meter/second = (18/5) km/hour, then x meters/second = [spoiler]x(18/5) km/hour[/spoiler]
= C

Cheers,
Brent

[[email protected]]

Hi shibsriz,

Each of the above explanations is valid/fast way to approach this question. Mitch's explanation (to TEST values), is my preferred approach, so I thought I'd offer an alternative way to tackle this question using THAT tactic.

Normally, in these situations, you shouldn't use the numbers 0 or 1. However, since the answers are significantly different from one another and the variable (x) does not appear in the denominator of the answers, I'm going to use x = 1

So, 1 meter/sec = 60 meters/min = 3600 meters/hr

3600 m/hr = 3.6 km/hr

Plug x = 1 in to the answers and find 3.6

Only answer C matches.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[faraz_jeddah]

I had used a similar formula for certain exams

If you want to convert speed given in km/hr, then to get the same in m/s multiply the original speed in km/hr by 5/18

Then to convert from m/s to km/hr multiply m/s by 18/5

Hope it helps!

Yup! Used this in high school physics. God bless the Indian education system