📘 Key Vocabulary
Rate — a ratio that compares two quantities
with different units (example: miles and hours, dollars and
pounds). (tasa)
Unit Rate — a rate where the second quantity is
1. It answers the question "how much for one?"
(tasa unitaria)
"Per" — means "for each one." Example: $3
per pound means $3 for 1 pound.
(por)
Speed — a special kind of rate that compares
distance to time. (velocidad)
Better Deal / Best Buy — the option with the
lowest unit price (cost per one item).
(mejor precio)
🖼️ Visual Example — What is a Unit Rate?
Situation: You buy 4 pounds of apples for $12.
Rate: $12 for 4 pounds →
$124 pounds
Unit Rate: $12 ÷ 4 =
$3 per pound →
$31 pound
The unit rate tells you the cost for just ONE pound.
Speed example: A car drives 150 miles in 3 hours.
Unit Rate: 150 ÷ 3 = 50 miles per hour (mph)
🔢 Step-by-Step — Finding a Unit Rate
-
1 Write the rate as a
fraction:
total amountnumber of units
-
2 Divide the top
number by the bottom number.
-
3 Write the answer
with "per" and the unit: "___ per 1 ___"
Example: 240 words in 4 minutes
Step 1:
240 words4 minutes
Step 2: 240 ÷ 4 = 60
Step 3: 60 words per minute
Comparing Unit Rates to Find the Better Deal
-
1 Find the unit rate for
each option.
-
2 Compare the unit
rates.
-
3 The
lower unit price = the better deal.
Which is the better deal?
Store A: 6 bottles for $9 → $9 ÷ 6 =
$1.50 per bottle
Store B: 8 bottles for $10 → $10 ÷ 8 =
$1.25 per bottle
$1.25 < $1.50 → Store B is the better deal!
✏️ Practice Problems
Type just the number (no dollar signs or units needed).