A rate is a comparison of two quantities that have different units, such as $45 every 3 hours.
A is a special type of rate where the second amount is 1, such as $15 every 1 hour. When you have a unit rate, you can use the word per. For example, you can also say $15 every 1 hour as $15 per hour. To convert any rate to a unit rate, you can divide the first quantity by the second.
Let's try it! Danielle uses 6 lemons to make of a gallon of lemonade.
How many lemons does Danielle use per gallon?
Find the unit rate by dividing the number of lemons Danielle uses, 6, by the gallons of lemonade she makes, .
To divide by ,
multiply by its reciprocal, .
Now, simplify.
So, the unit rate is 8 lemons per gallon.
You can follow the same steps to find unit rates if your rate has two fractions!
Let's try it! Jayden hiked of a mile in of an hour.
How fast was Jayden hiking per hour?
You can find the unit rate by dividing of a mile by of an hour.
To divide by ,
multiply by its reciprocal, .
Now, convert the improper fraction to a mixed number.
So, the unit rate is miles per hour.
