On the previous problem, you found a unit rate of ounces per box. Explain how you find a unit rate when given a rate.

1 answer

To find a unit rate from a given rate, you want to express the rate in terms of a single unit. For example, if you have a rate of \( y \) ounces per \( x \) boxes, you can find the unit rate (in this case, ounces per box) by dividing the quantity in ounces by the number of boxes.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

  1. Identify the given rate: Suppose you have 40 ounces in 5 boxes. This gives you a rate of 40 ounces per 5 boxes.

  2. Set up the division: To find the unit rate (ounces per box), divide the total ounces by the number of boxes: \[ \text{Unit Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Ounces}}{\text{Number of Boxes}} = \frac{40 \text{ ounces}}{5 \text{ boxes}} \]

  3. Perform the division: Calculate the division: \[ \frac{40}{5} = 8 \] So, the unit rate is 8 ounces per box.

To summarize, finding a unit rate involves dividing the quantity by the number of units to get the value expressed for one unit.