What Are Unit Rates and Equivalent Rates?
Rates help us compare different quantities!
A unit rate tells us how much of one thing there is per one unit of another thing. Equivalent rates are different rates that represent the same comparison - just like different fractions can equal the same amount!
How to Find Unit Rates
1️⃣ Identify the two quantities being compared
2️⃣ Divide the first quantity by the second quantity
3️⃣ Simplify to find the amount per 1 unit
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: Shopping for Snacks
At the store, 5 apples cost $2.50. What's the unit rate (price per apple)?
5 apples
$2.50
To find the price per apple: $2.50 ÷ 5 apples = $0.50 per apple
So the unit rate is 50¢ per apple!
Example 2: Bike Riding
Sarah rides her bike 12 miles in 2 hours. What's her speed in miles per hour?
12 miles
2 hours
To find miles per hour: 12 miles ÷ 2 hours = 6 miles per hour
Sarah rides at 6 mph - that's a good pace!
Equivalent rates would be 24 miles in 4 hours or 3 miles in 0.5 hours.
Parent Tips 🌟
- Grocery store practice: Compare unit prices on different sized packages to find the best deal.
- Sports connections: Calculate points per game or miles per hour during family activities.
- Recipe math: Adjust recipe quantities together to practice finding equivalent rates.