- Definition
A unit rate tells you how much of something there is for every single unit of another thing, like how much a movie ticket costs for one person, or the price of one kilogram of rice.
If a pack of 3 juice boxes costs $3, the unit rate is $1 per juice box.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A unit rate is like the price tag on a single candy bar at the store, telling you how much it costs for just one.
Ask your child: If you walk 20 steps in 10 seconds, how many steps is that in one second?
Common mix-up: Kids might see any rate, like '$10 for 2 shirts,' and think it's a unit rate. The key is that a unit rate always tells you the cost or amount for a single item.
Examples
- A car traveling 60 miles in one hour has a unit rate of 60 miles per hour.
- Earning $15 for one hour of babysitting is a unit rate of $15 per hour.
unit rate is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
