An introduction to unit rates

This is a simple beginner lesson (for about 6th grade level) concerning UNIT RATES.

A unit rate is a ratio where the second term of the ratio is ONE of something. I give examples of unit rates, such as $8.45 per kilogram, 56 miles per hour, 18 pupils to 1 teacher, or 4 balloons for each kid.

Next, we change various non-unit rates to unit rates, which is very simple: all you need to do is DIVIDE. For example, the rate "122 words in 5 minutes" is converted into an unit rate by dividing 122/5, which is 24.4, and writing the "words per minute" after it. So "122 words in 5 minutes" is equivalent to the unit rate 24.4 word per minute.

In the 2nd part of this lesson we solve several word problems involving unit rates.

See also

Word problems involving unit rates — video lesson

Math Mammoth Grade 6 curriculum

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