6th Grade - Unit Rate

Introduction

• A rate is a ratio of two different units.
• A unit rate is a ratio of two units, where the rate or denominator of the second unit is 1.
• A unit rate means the price or quantity of one item of something.
• Finding the unit rate of anything is finding the rate or quantity for one where the rate for more than one is given.

Solved Examples

Example 1: Find the unit rate:  92 miles in 2 hours.

Solution: To find miles/hour, write the fraction with the given numbers in such a way that the fraction can be reduced and has 1 as a denominator.

= $\frac{92}{2} = \frac{46}{1}$

= 46 miles/hour

Example 2: Find the unit price: $12 for 6 burgers

Solution: To find the price of 1 burger, write the fraction with the given numbers in such a way that the fraction can be reduced and has 1 as a denominator.

$\frac{12}{6} = \frac{2}{1}$

$2 for 1 burger or $2/burger.

Cheat Sheet

• Finding the unit price is the same as finding the unit rate. In unit rate, the rate of 1 item is determined, and in unit price, the price of 1 item is determined. 

Blunder Area

• While finding the unit rate or unit price, the denominator of the ratio should always be reduced to 1.