A unit rate is a rate that tells you how much of one quantity there is for exactly 1 of another, such as 40 miles per hour or 3 dollars per pencil. To find it, divide the first amount by the second: 80 miles in 2 hours is 80 ÷ 2 = 40 miles per hour.
Reviewed by the Helping with Math Team · Updated 13 October 2026
Introduction
A unit rate, often known as a single-unit rate, compares one unit of one quantity with a different unit of another quantity. Unit rates are frequently encountered in daily life. Typical examples are distance per unit of time, like kilometers per hour and meters per second. In the supermarket, the cost per item is also a unit rate.
A unit rate is a ratio between 2 distinct units with 1 as the denominator. To put it simply, it tells the rate in the lowest terms or the amount for one.
In this article, we will have the definition of rate, unit rate, and unit price and some solved examples in calculating unit rates.
What is the rate?
Definition
Two quantities in different units are compared using a rate. It can be expressed as either a fraction or a ratio. A rate is a ratio that usually involves a unit of time.
For example, an automobile travels 40 kilometers in 2 hours. It means that in 2 hours, the automobile covers forty kilometers. The way we compare the two different units of distance and time as a single ratio is a rate.
What is a unit rate?
Definition
A unit rate, often known as a single-unit rate, compares one unit of one quantity with a different unit of another quantity. A unit rate is a ratio between 2 distinct units with one as the denominator. To put it simply, it tells the rate in the lowest terms or the amount for one.
Some examples of unit rates are kilometer per hour (kph), miles per hour (mph), words per minute (wpm), etc. In problems, the symbol “/” may substitute the word “per.”
The following are examples of unit rates:
( a ) The car travelled 80 kilometers in 2 hours. The unit rate is 40 kilometers per hour or 40 kph.
( b ) There are 200 students and 5 teachers. The unit rate is 40 students per teacher or 40 students/teacher.
( c ) A gardener earned 520 dollars in 40 hours of work. The unit rate is 13 dollars per hour or 13 dollars/hour
( d ) A shop sells 420 apples in 6 days. The unit rate is 70 apples sold per day or 70 apples/day.
( e ) The patient has 148 heartbeats in 2 minutes. The unit rate is 74 heartbeats per minute or 74 heartbeats/minute.
( f ) A sprinter runs 120 meters in 20 seconds. The unit rate is 6 meters per second or 6 meters/second.
Calculating the Unit Rate
A unit rate compares one unit of one quantity with a different unit of another quantity. To calculate the unit rate, we must divide the numerator by the denominator of the given rate.
Let us calculate the unit rate of each of the following scenarios below:
( a ) $45 for 15 pencils
( b ) 71 miles in 2 gallons
( c ) 320 words in 8 minutes
( d ) 18 miles in 150 minutes
( e ) 96 dollars in 8 hours
( f ) 18 dollars for 3 gallons of milk
Solution
( a ) $45 for 15 pencils
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 45 dollars by 15 pencils.
Unit Rate = $\frac{45\: dollars}{15\: pencils}$
Unit Rate = 3 dollars/pencil
Therefore, the unit rate of 45 dollars per 15 pencils is 3 dollars per pencil.
( b ) 71 miles in 2 gallons
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 71 miles by 2 gallons.
Unit Rate = $\frac{71\: miles}{2\: gallons}$
Unit Rate = 35.5 miles/gallon
Therefore, the unit rate for 71 miles per 2 gallons is 35.5 miles per gallon.
( c ) 320 words in 8 minutes
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 320 words by 8 minutes.
Unit Rate = $\frac{320\: words}{8\: minutes}$
Unit Rate = 40 words/minute
Therefore, the unit rate for 320 words per 8 minutes is 40 words per minute.
( d ) 18 miles in 150 minutes
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 18 miles by 150 minutes.
Unit Rate = $\frac{18\: miles}{150\: minutes}$
Unit Rate = 0.12 miles/minute
Therefore, the unit rate for 18 miles per 150 minutes is 0.12 miles per minute.
( e ) 96 dollars in 8 hours
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 96 dollars by 8 hours.
Unit Rate = $\frac{96\: dollars}{8\: hours}$
Unit Rate = 12 dollars/hour
Therefore, the unit rate of 96 dollars per 8 hours is 12 dollars per hour.
( f ) 18 dollars for 3 gallons of milk
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 18 dollars by 3 gallons of milk.
Unit Rate = $\frac{18\: dollars}{3\: gallons\: of\: milk}$
Unit Rate = 6 dollars/gallon
Therefore, the unit rate of 18 dollars per 3 gallons of milk is 6 dollars per gallon or 6 dollars/gallon.
Deal A: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 per 1. Deal B: 4 ÷ 20 = 0.2 per 1. If these are prices, Deal B is the better buy.
Unit Price
The cost of a single item is expressed as a unit price. Unit Rate and Unit Price are highly comparable. To determine the unit price of a given good, divide the total cost by the number of items.
The formula calculates the unit price as the total price over total units.
Unit Price=$\frac{Total\: Price}{Total\: Units}$
Let us say, for example, you spent 24 dollars for 6 dozen eggs. To calculate the unit price, we must divide the total cost, 24 dollars, by the total units, 6 dozen. Hence, we have,
Unit Price = $\frac{Total\: Price\: of\: Eggs}{Number\: of\: Dozen\: of\: Eggs}$
Unit Price = $\frac{24\: dollars}{6\: dozen}$
Unit Price = 4 dollars/dozen
Therefore, the unit price of 24 dollars for 6 dozen is 4 dollars per dozen.
For another example, suppose you paid 120 dollars for a car you rented for 3 days. To calculate the unit cost, let us divide the cost of 120 dollars by the total units of 3 days.
Thus, we have,
Unit Price = $\frac{Total\: amount\: paid}{number\: of\: days}$
Unit Price = $\frac{120\: dollars}{3\: days}$
Unit Price = 40 dollars/day
Therefore, the unit price for the car rental is 40 dollars per day.
Using unit price to find the better buy
Unit prices let you compare packs of different sizes fairly. Find the price for 1 unit of each, then pick the lower one.
A 12-ounce box of cereal costs 3 dollars and a 20-ounce box costs 4 dollars. The small box costs 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 dollars (25 cents) per ounce. The large box costs 4 ÷ 20 = 0.20 dollars (20 cents) per ounce. The large box is the better buy.
Solved Examples on Unit Rate
Example 1
The tourists travelled 30 kilometers in 2 hours. Calculate the unit rate.
Solution
Since the tourists travelled 30 kilometers in 2 hours, we must divide 30 kilometers by 2 hours to calculate the unit rate. Hence, we have,
Unit Rate = $\frac{Total\: distance\: covered}{Number\: of\: hours}$
Unit Rate = $\frac{30\: kilometers}{2\: hours}$
Unit Rate = 15 kilometers/hour
Therefore, the unit rate for 30 km per 2 hours is 15 kilometers per hour or 15 kph.
Example 2
A printer prints 60 pages in 20 seconds. Determine the unit rate of pages printed each second.
Solution
The number of pages a printer makes in 20 seconds is 60 pages. To calculate the unit rate, we must divide the total number of pages printed, 60 pages, by the total number of seconds, 20 seconds. Hence, we have,
Unit Rate = $\frac{Total\: pages}{Number\: of\: seconds}$
Unit Rate = $\frac{60\: pages}{20\: seconds}$
Unit Rate = 3 pages/second
Therefore, the unit rate for 60 pages in 20 seconds is 3 pages per second.
Example 3
Find the unit rate if a worker earns $800 in 40 hours.
Solution
Since the man earns $800 in 40 hours, we must divide 800 by 40 to calculate the unit rate.
Thus, we have,
Unit Rate = $\frac{Total\: earnings}{Number\: of\: hours}$
Unit Rate = $\frac{800\: dollars}{40\: hours}$
Unit Rate = 20 dollars/hour
Therefore, the unit rate of $800 for 40 hours is $20 per hour.
Example 4
Maria bought 4 chocolate bars for her sisters. How much did each chocolate bar cost if she purchased them for 8 dollars?
Solution
Since we are asked to find the price of each chocolate bar, we must divide the total cost by the total units. Hence, we have the solution,
Unit Price = $\frac{Total\: Price\: of\: chocolate\: bars}{Number\: of\: chocolate\: bars}$
Unit price = $\frac{8\: dollars}{4\: chocolate\: bars}$
Unit Price = 2 dollars/chocolate bar
Therefore, each chocolate bar costs 2 dollars.
Example 5
Martin took 6 hours to run 9 kilometers. Find the unit rate.
Solution
To find the unit rate, divide 9 kilometers by 6 hours. So, we have,
Unit Rate = $\frac{Total\: distance\: covered}{Number\: of\: hours}$
Unit Rate = $\frac{9\: kilometers}{6\: hours}$
Unit Rate = 1.5 kilometers/hour
Therefore, the unit rate of 9 kilometers in 6 hours is 1.5 kilometers per hour or 1.5 kph.
Example 6
A businessman bought 5 televisions for $3150. Calculate the unit cost.
Solution
To calculate the unit cost, let us divide $3150 by the total number of televisions the businessman bought. So, we have,
Unit Cost = $\frac{Total\: Price\: of\: television}{Number\: of\: televisions}$
Unit Cost = $\frac{3150\: dollars}{5\: televisions}$
Unit Cost = 630 dollars/television
Therefore, the unit cost is $630 per television.
Example 7
Calculate the unit rate of each of the following:
( a ) $200 for 8 bags
( b ) 50 kilometers in 4 gallons
( c ) 450 words in 9 minutes
( d ) 250 meters in 8 minutes
( e ) 490 dollars in 35 hours
( f ) 60 dollars for 12 dozen eggs
Solution
( a ) $200 for 8 bags
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 200 dollars by 8 bags.
Unit Rate = $\frac{200\: dollars}{8\: bags}$
Unit Rate = 25 dollars/bag
Therefore, the unit rate of 200 dollars per 8 bags is 25 dollars per bag or 25 dollars/bag.
( b ) 50 kilometers in 4 gallons
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 50 kilometers by 4 gallons.
Unit Rate = $\frac{50\: kilometers}{4\: gallons}$
Unit Rate = 12.5 kilometers/gallon
Therefore, the unit rate for 50 kilometers per 4 gallons is 12.5 kilometers per gallon or 12.5 km/gal.
( c ) 450 words in 9 minutes
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 450 words by 9 minutes.
Unit Rate = $\frac{450\: words}{9\: minutes}$
Unit Rate = 50 words/minute
Therefore, the unit rate for 450 words per 9 minutes is 50 words per minute or 50 wpm.
( d ) 250 meters in 8 minutes
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 250 meters by 8 minutes.
Unit Rate = $\frac{250\: meters}{8\: minutes}$
Unit Rate = 31.25 meters/minute
Therefore, the unit rate for 250 meters per 8 minutes is 31.25 meters per minute or 31.25 meters/minute.
( e ) 490 dollars in 35 hours
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 490 dollars by 35 hours.
Unit Rate = $\frac{490\: dollars}{35\: hours}$
Unit Rate = 14 dollars/hour
Therefore, the unit rate of 490 dollars per 35 hours is 14 dollars per hour or 14 dollars/hour.
( f ) 60 dollars for 12 dozen eggs
To calculate the unit rate, let us divide 60 dollars by 12 dozen eggs.
Unit Rate = $\frac{60\: dollars}{12\: dozen\: eggs}$
Unit Rate = 5 dollars/dozen
Therefore, the unit rate of 60 dollars per 12 dozen eggs is 5 dollars per dozen or 5 dollars/dozen.
Summary
Two quantities in different units are compared using a rate. It can be expressed as either a fraction or a ratio. A rate is a ratio that usually involves a unit of time. For example, an automobile travels at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. It means that in one hour, the automobile covers twenty kilometers. The way we compare the two different units of distance and time as a single ratio is a rate.
A unit rate, often known as a single-unit rate, compares one unit of one quantity with a different unit of another quantity. A unit rate is a ratio between 2 distinct units with 1 as the denominator. To put it simply, it tells the rate in the lowest terms or the amount for one.
Some examples of unit rates are kilometer per hour (kph), miles per hour (mph), words per minute (wpm), etc. In problems, the symbol “/” may substitute the word “per.”
Calculating the Unit Rate
To calculate the unit rate, we must divide the numerator by the denominator of the given rate.
For example, a gardener earned 520 dollars in 40 hours of work. The unit rate is 13 dollars per hour or 13 dollars/hour.
Unit Price
The cost of a single item is expressed as a unit price. Unit Rate and Unit Price are highly comparable. To determine the unit price of a given good, divide the total cost by the number of items.
The formula calculates the unit price as the total price over total units.
Unit Price=$\frac{Total\: Price}{Total\: Units}$
For example, suppose you paid 120 dollars for a car you rented for 3 days. To calculate the unit cost, let us divide the total cost of 120 dollars by the total units, 3 days.
Thus, we have,
Unit Price = $\frac{Total\: amount\: paid}{Number\: of\: days}$
Unit Price = $\frac{120\: dollars}{3\: days}$
Unit Price = 40 dollars/day
Therefore, the unit price for the car rental is 40 dollars per day
More practice: The International System of Units Epiphany Themed worksheets.
Unit rate FAQs
What is a unit rate?
A rate with 1 on the bottom: how much of one thing for exactly 1 of another, such as 40 miles per hour or 3 dollars per pencil.
How do you find a unit rate?
Divide the first quantity by the second. 450 mistakes in 9 tests is 450 ÷ 9 = 50 mistakes per test.
What is the difference between a rate and a unit rate?
A rate compares two different units, like 150 calls in 6 hours. A unit rate brings the second amount down to 1: 25 calls per hour.
What is the difference between a ratio and a rate?
A ratio compares amounts in the same unit, like 3 boys to 4 girls. A rate compares different units, like miles and hours.
What is a unit price?
The cost of one item or one unit: total price ÷ number of units. 8 dollars for 4 chocolate bars is 2 dollars per bar.
How do unit rates help you compare deals?
Find the price per unit for each one. 12 ounces for 3 dollars is 25 cents per ounce, and 20 ounces for 4 dollars is 20 cents per ounce, so the bigger pack is the better buy.
Can a unit rate be a decimal?
Yes. 9 kilometers in 6 hours is 1.5 kilometers per hour, and 25 goals in 50 games is 0.5 goals per game.
