Basic Mathematics for College Students

We can also find the unit rate by dividing 354 by 6.

The unit rate can be expressed in any of the following forms:

, 59 miles per hour, 59 miles/hour, or 59 mph

The Language of Mathematics A slash mark / is often used to write a unit rate.

In such cases, we read the slash mark as “per.” For example, 33 pounds/gallon is

read as 33 pounds pergallon.

Writing a Rate as a Unit Rate

To write a rate as a unit rate,divide the numerator of the rate by the

denominator.

59

miles

hour

59 miles

1 hour

Unit rate:

59 miles

1 hour





This quotient is the numerical part of

the unit rate, written as a fraction.

The numerical part of the

denominator is always 1.

59

(^6)  354
 30
54
 54
0
Rate:
354 miles
6 hours
5.1 Ratios 421
Self Check 8
NUTRITIONThere are 204 calories
in a 12-ounce can of cranberry
juice. Write this rate as a unit
rate. (Hint:Find the number of
calories in 1 ounce.)
Now TryProblem 57
EXAMPLE (^8) Coffee There are 384 calories in a
16-ounce cup of caramel Frappuccino blended coffee with whip
cream. Write this rate as a unit rate. (Hint:Find the number of
calories in 1 ounce.)
StrategyWe will translate the rate from its given form in words to
fractional form. Then we will perform the indicated division.
WHYTo write a rate as a unit rate, we divide the numerator of the
rate by the denominator.
Solution
384 calories in16 ounces can be written as.
To find the number of calories in 1 ounce of the coffee (the unit rate), we perform
the division as indicated by the fraction bar:
Divide the numerator of the rate by the denominator.
For the caramel Frappuccino blended coffee with whip cream, the unit rate is
24 calories1 ounce , which can be written as 24 calories per ounce or 24 calories /ounce.

24

16  384

 32

64

 64

0



384 calories

16 ounces