A rate compares two different kinds of amounts, like miles and hours or dollars and pens. A unit rate is the amount for one: miles per hour, cost per pen.
To find a unit rate, divide. A car travels 150 miles in 3 hours, so its speed is 150 ÷ 3 = 50 miles per hour. Unit rates help you compare deals: if 500 g of rice costs $2.30 and 1000 g costs $5.60, the 500 g bag is better value because two of them cost only $4.60.
Worked example
6 pens cost $4.80. How much does one pen cost?
- Divide the cost by the number of pens.
- $4.80 ÷ 6 = $0.80.
Answer:$0.80
Key words
- rate
- a comparison of two different quantities
- unit rate
- the rate for one unit
- per
- for each
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: 6.RP.A.2, 6.RP.A.3b