Monday, May 19, 2025

Finding the Unit Rate

A unit rate is a way of comparing two different quantities where one of the quantities (the denominator) is expressed as one unit. The unit rate expresses how much of one quantity exists per unit of the other quantity. 

To find the unit rate you:

1. Identify the quantities
2. Write the quantities as a fractional division problem with the numerator being the quantity you are trying to calculate per unit. The denominator is the total number of units of the second quantity (the one you want to unitize).
3. Complete the division. 

Example1 :
Jayda takes 3 hours to deliver 189 newspapers on her paper route. What is the rate per hour at which she delivers the newspaper?

The quantities are 3 hours and 189 newspapers. The question asks for the "rate per hour" so we know hours will become the unit quantity (the denominator) and number of newspapers is what we are trying to calculate (the numerator). 

189/3 = 63 

Therefore Jayda can deliver 63 newspapers per hour

Example 2
Nierria earns $75 for 4 hours of tutoring. How much does Nierria earn for 1 hour of tutoring?

We are looking for how much she makes "per hour" so we know hours is the unit quantity (denominator) and the amount earned per hour is what we are trying to calculate (the numerator).

75 dollars/4 hours = 18.75 dollars/per hour

Example 3
You walk 1/2 mile in 1/4 hour. How many miles will you walk in one hour?

We are looking for miles per hour so hours will be the denominator and miles the numerator.

1/2 / 1/4 = 1/2 x 4/1 = 4/2 = 2 miles per hour

Example 4
Calvin cleans 3/5 of his bathroom with 1/3 of a bottle of cleaning solution. At this rate, what fraction of the bottle of cleaning solution will Calvin use to clean his entire bathroom?

We are trying to figure out how much or many bottles (numerator) to clean his one bathroom (denominator).

1/3 bottle / 3/5 bathroom = 1/3 bottle x 5/3 bathroom = 5/9 bottle to clean his bathroom.








https://www.khanacademy.org/math/pre-algebra/pre-algebra-ratios-rates/pre-algebra-rates/v/finding-unit-rates

https://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Unit-Rate

https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/unit-rate-formula

https://www.mathmammoth.com/videos/ratio/unit_rate_fractions

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