A Question is given followed by two Statements I and II. Consider the Question and the Statements. Question : What is the time required to download the software? Statement-I : The size of the software is 12 megabytes. Statement-II : The transfer rate is 2·4 kilobytes per second. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?
- (a) The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone
- (b) The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
- (c) The Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
Why the answer is (c)
• To calculate the time required for download, the formula Time = Size / Transfer Rate is necessary.
• Statement I provides the size of the software as 12 megabytes, but without the transfer rate, the time cannot be determined.
• Statement II provides the transfer rate as 2.4 kilobytes per second, but without the file size, the time cannot be determined.
• Using both statements, convert 12 megabytes to kilobytes: 12 MB = 12 × 1024 KB = 12288 KB.
• Calculate the time: 12288 KB / 2.4 KB/s = 5120 seconds.
• Since the question can only be answered by combining both statements, option (c) is correct.
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) The Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered…
- Neither statement alone provides both the size and the rate required to compute the time.
- (b) The Question can be answered by using either Statement alone
- Each statement individually lacks the other variable (size or rate) needed for the calculation.
- (d) The Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together
- Both statements together provide sufficient data (size and rate) to calculate the exact time.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.