So i'm struggling to understand what the difference is between 10m/s and 10m/s–1 .The question was a runner runs 100m in 10 seconds what is their velocity.Does putting a -1 after m/s change anything or is that the proper formant.
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3For a velocity you may say $10, m/s$ or $10, ms^{-1}$. Note that $s^{-1}=\frac{1}{s}$ – Robert Z Jan 29 '19 at 12:20
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If we're talking about velovities, then it's $ms^{-1}$, not $m/s^{-1}$. And no, there is no difference at all between $ms^{-1}$ and $m/s$, as $s^{-1}$, by definition of $^{-1}$, is exactly the same as $1/s$.
It's a matter of aesthetic preference.
Arthur
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It's not clear what $ 10 \text{ } m/s - 1$ means. Neither $10 \text{ } \dfrac{m}{s} - 1$ Nor $10 \text{ } \dfrac{m}{s-1}$ makes sense in this context as you can't take a unit less value from one with units.
$ 10 \text{ } m/s $ means $10 \text{ } \dfrac{m}{s}$ or a cyclist travels 10 meters every second.
You may be getting confused with $10 \text{ } ms^{-1}$ Which means the same as $10 \text{ } \dfrac{m}{s} = 10 \text{ }m/s$ so is equivalent.
While $10 \text{ } m/s^{-1} = 10 \text{ } \dfrac{m}{s^{-1}} = 10 \text{ }ms$. This is quite different.
Warren Hill
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