Maths quiz on petrol prices. Which country is getting a better deal?

Question

If Aussies are paying around AU $1.42 per LITRE for unleaded petrol, and Americans are paying around US $3.70 per GALLON, and the current rate of exchange is AU $1.04 = one US dollar

[http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=AUD&submit=Convert] who is paying more?

For US prices: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp

For Australian [Victorian] prices: http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Internet/Primary/my+car/advice+&+information/fuel/petrol+prices?CACHE=NONE#todayPrices

Please include your workings!! Thanks.

Answer 1

It seems simple, but someone told me once (I can't vouch for it) that the US gallon is NOT the same as the old imperial standard gallon we had before the weights and measures changed.

Apparently what they call a gallon is smaller than what we used to call a gallon (see link below).

That would change the maths a bit, if so.

Cheers :-)

Answer 2

I got to think about this on, give me 5-10 minutes.

so the americans are, because you need to get the price per gallon in AU first. That means multiply the AU 1.42 (per litre) by 3.79 (litres in a gallon), which is AU 5.38. You then need to convert the price to dollars. Divide the AU 5.38(price per gallon) by 1.04 (currency rate) and you get that Australia is paying $5.17 per gallon over the American $3.70 per gallon.