Unit 4 · Standard 6.RP.2
Rates and Unit Rates Flagship
Arcade Builder Mission
Best Booth in the Arcade
You are the new operations manager at NeonPlex Arcade. Two ticket booths are competing for players — Booth A charges $3 for 5 games, Booth B charges $5 for 8 games. Players want the best deal, and your job is to crown the winning booth by mastering unit rates.
Key Vocabulary Level 1 support
Picture first, then the word, then a plain-language meaning. Say each word out loud.
$12 for 4 games is a rate
Rate
A ratio comparing two amounts with different units, like miles per hour.
$3 per 1 game
Unit Rate
A rate for just 1 of something, like cost for 1 item.
60 miles per hour means 60 miles for every 1 hour
Per
For each one. Example: 5 dollars per book.
5 to 3 or 5:3
Ratio
A way to compare two amounts.
Pack A: $0.50 per pencil vs Pack B: $0.40 per pencil — Pack B is the better buy
Better Buy
The choice that costs less for each item.
$12 ÷ 4 games = $3 per game
Divide
Splitting a total into equal groups.
Key Ideas & Notes
- You're comparing ticket prices at different game booths in the arcade.
- Booth A charges $3 for 5 games, and Booth B charges $5 for 8 games.
- Which booth gives you a better deal?
- To find out, you need to figure out the cost per game — that's the unit rate!
- Calculate the unit rate (cost per game) for each arcade booth. Divide the total cost by the number of games.
Think About It
- What two quantities are being compared at each booth?
- Which booth seems like a better deal at first glance?
- How can you compare prices when the number of games is different?
My Notes
Guided Examples
Example 1
A booth charges $4.50 for 9 games. What is the unit rate?
Solution: $4.50 ÷ 9 = $0.50 per game.
Answer: A. $0.50 per game
Example 2
A car travels 180 miles using 6 gallons of gas. What is the unit rate in miles per gallon?
Solution: 180 miles ÷ 6 gallons = 30 miles per gallon.
Answer: A. 30 miles per gallon
Example 3
A pack of 8 markers costs $6.00. What is the cost per marker?
Solution: $6.00 ÷ 8 = $0.75 per marker.
Answer: A. $0.75
Write About the Math The Writing Revolution
I can explain my choice using the words rate, unit rate, per, and better buy.
1. Kernel Sentence subject + verb
Model: Rate is a ratio comparing two amounts with different units, like miles per hour.Tasa es una razón que compara dos cantidades con unidades distintas, como millas por hora.
Write a kernel sentence about rate. Use a subject and a verb.Escribe una oración base sobre tasa. Usa un sujeto y un verbo.
2. Sentence Expansion because · but · so
Kernel: Rate matters in mathTasa importa en matemáticas
Expand the kernel three ways. Add a reason, a contrast, and a result.
Rate matters in math because ___.Tasa importa en matemáticas porque ___.
Rate matters in math, but ___.Tasa importa en matemáticas, pero ___.
Rate matters in math, so ___.Tasa importa en matemáticas, entonces ___.
3. Sentence Types 4 ways to write a math idea
Tell one true fact about rate.Di un hecho verdadero sobre rate.
Rate ___.
Ask a question about rate.Haz una pregunta sobre rate.
How does ___ ?¿Cómo ___ ?
Show excitement about rate.Muestra entusiasmo sobre rate.
Wow, ___ !¡Guau, ___ !
Tell a partner what to do with rate.Dile a un compañero qué hacer con rate.
First, ___ .Primero, ___ .
4. Explain Your Reasoning use a sentence starter
I know ___ because ___.Sé que ___ porque ___.
First I ___, then I ___.Primero ___, luego ___.
This is important because ___.Esto es importante porque ___.
Try It
Solve on your own. Check the answer key when you are done.
1. Which token pack from the table above is the best deal?
- Pack A
- Pack B
- Pack C
- They are all the same
2. Runner A completes 4 laps in 12 minutes. Runner B completes 5 laps in 14 minutes. Who runs more laps per minute?
- Runner B
- Runner A
- Same rate
- Cannot determine
Stretch Your Thinking Level 2 enrichment
Challenge task — explain your reasoning in full sentences.
An arcade sells tokens in three packs: 25 tokens for $5, 60 tokens for $10.80, and 100 tokens for $19. A student says the 100-token pack is always the best deal because you get the most tokens. Is the student correct? Find all three unit rates and explain.
Sentence starter: The student is ___ because the best deal is the ___ pack with a unit rate of $___ per token.
Reflect — Exit Ticket
A store sells 6 pencils for $1.50 and 10 pencils for $2.80. Which is the better buy?
- 6 for $1.50 — $0.25 each
- 10 for $2.80 — $0.28 each
- They cost the same per pencil
- Not enough information
Answer Key & Teacher Guide
- Try It 1: B. Pack B — Pack B has a unit rate of $0.20 per token, which is the lowest cost per token.
- Try It 2: A. Runner B — Runner A: 4÷12 ≈ 0.33 laps/min. Runner B: 5÷14 ≈ 0.36 laps/min. Runner B runs slightly more laps per minute.
- Exit Ticket: A. 6 for $1.50 — $0.25 each — $1.50 ÷ 6 = $0.25 per pencil. $2.80 ÷ 10 = $0.28 per pencil. $0.25 < $0.28, so 6 for $1.50 is the better buy.
Writing (TWR) — what to look for
- Kernel sentence: A complete sentence needs a subject and a verb. Example: Rate is a ratio comparing two amounts with different units, like miles per hour.
- Expansion: because gives a reason, but shows a contrast or exception, so shows a result. Answers vary; each must keep the kernel idea and add the correct kind of detail.
- Sentence types: Statement ends with a period, question with "?", exclamation with "!", and a command starts with an action verb (a "bossy" verb).