Understanding Unit Rate
Aligned to 6.RP.A.2 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
A unit rate is the amount for exactly ONE of something. Take the ratio a:b and divide a by b to find how much per single unit — that is where the word 'per' comes from.
Worked examples
Example 1
A car travels 150 miles on 5 gallons. The unit rate is 150 ÷ 5 = 30 miles per gallon — that is how far it goes on just 1 gallon.
Example 2
A printer prints 90 pages in 3 minutes. Unit rate: 90 ÷ 3 = 30 pages per minute.
Example 3
The same pair gives two unit rates. At 30 pages per minute, it also takes 1/30 of a minute per page — pick the one that answers your question.
Practice questions
- You read 90 pages in 3 hours. What is your reading rate in pages per hour?
- A store sells 8 juice boxes for $4. What is the price per juice box?
- A printer makes 240 copies in 4 minutes. Find the unit rate in copies per minute.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Comprender la Tasa Unitaria
Una tasa unitaria es la cantidad por exactamente UNO de algo. Toma la razón a:b y divide a entre b para hallar cuánto hay por una sola unidad: de ahí viene la palabra 'por'.
Ejemplo 1: Un carro recorre 150 millas con 5 galones. La tasa unitaria es 150 ÷ 5 = 30 millas por galón, es decir, lo que avanza con solo 1 galón.
Ejemplo 2: Una impresora imprime 90 páginas en 3 minutos. Tasa unitaria: 90 ÷ 3 = 30 páginas por minuto.
Ejemplo 3: El mismo par da dos tasas unitarias. A 30 páginas por minuto, también tarda 1/30 de minuto por página — usa la que responda tu pregunta.
More Ratios & Proportional Relationships lessons
Teach this lesson today
An AI tutor that guides with questions instead of just giving answers — all K–12 core subjects, every child in the family.
Start free — no card required