Unit Rate (Grade 6)


Related Pages
Common Core Grade 6
Common Core for Mathematics
More Lessons for Grade 6

These lessons, with videos, examples and solutions, help Grade 6 students understand the concept of a unit rate a/b associated with a ratio a:b with b ≠ 0, and use rate language in the context of a ratio relationship.




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For example, “This recipe has a ratio of 3 cups of flour to 4 cups of sugar, so there is 3/4 cup of flour for each cup of sugar.” “We paid $75 for 15 hamburgers, which is a rate of $5 per hamburger.”

Common Core: 6.RP.2

Suggested Learning Targets

  • I can describe unit rate.
  • I can use unit rates to solve problems.
  • I can identify and calculate a unit rate.
  • I can use appropriate math terminology as related to rate.
  • I can analyze the relationship between a ratio a:b and a unit rate a/b where b≠0.

Component Skills from Previous Grades

6.RP.1
Understand the concept of a ratio and use ratio language to describe a ratio relationship between two quantities.

The following diagram shows some examples of unit rates. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions on how to find unit rates.

Unit Rate Example

Understand unit rate and use rate language in the context of a ratio relationship (6.RP.2)

How rates are part of the ratio family?
Unit rates are ratios that compare two measurements (units) and the second measurement is 1 (per)
Some examples of unit rates are:
miles per hour, blinks per second, calories per serving, steps per day and heart beats per minute.

Examples:

  1. The mobile company charges $180 for an hour of service. How many dollars are customers charged per minute?
  2. A water cooler fills 150 glasses in 30 minutes. How many glasses of water can the cooler fill in one minute?
  3. A skydiver falls 144 feet in 3 seconds. How far does he fall in one second?
  4. A pump moves 42 gallons in seven minutes. Find the unit rate.
  5. You score 84 points in 5 games. How many points do you score per game?



What is the unit rate?
A unit rate is a comparison of two numeric measurements in which one of the terms has a value of 1.

Examples:

  1. Taylor earned $180 last week at the diner. If she worked 20 hours, how much money did she earn per hour?
  2. Hagan can pack 60 toys in boxes in 4 hours. How many toys can he pack per hour?

6.rp.2
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) videos are designed to support states, schools, and teachers in the implementation of the CCSS. Each video is an audiovisual resource that focuses on one or more specific standards and usually includes examples/illustrations geared to enhancing understanding. The intent of each content-focused video is to clarify the meaning of the individual standard rather than to be a guide on how to teach each standard although the examples can be adapted for instructional use.

Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.
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