1. Ratios, Rates, and Unit Rates
7-2
Ratios, Rates, and Unit Rates
Warm Up
Problem of the Day
Lesson Presentation
Pre-Algebra

2. Learn to work with rates and ratios.

3. Vocabulary
rate
unit rate
unit price

4. Movie and television screens range in shape from almost perfect squares to wide rectangles.
An aspect ratio describes a screen by comparing its width to its height.
Common aspect ratios are 4:3, 37:20, 16:9, and 47:20.

5. Additional Example 1A: Ordering Ratios
A. Order the ratios 4:3, 23:10, 13:9, and 47:20 from the least to greatest.
4 3
4 3
Divide. =
1.3 1
4:3 =
= 1.3
23 10
23:10 =
= 2.3
13 9
13:9 =
= 1.4
47 20
47:20 =
= 2.35
The decimals in order are 1.3, 1.4, 2.3, and 2.35.
The ratios in order from least to greatest are 4:3, 13:9, 23:10, and 47:20.

6. Additional Example 1B: Ordering Ratios
B. A television has screen width 20 in. and height 15 in. What is the aspect ratio of this screen?
The ratio of the width to the height is 20:15.
The ratio can be simplified:
20 15
5(4) 5(3)
4 3
= = .
The screen has the aspect ratio 4:3.

7. A ratio is a comparison of two quantities.
A rate is a comparison of two quantities that have different units. 90 3
Ratio:
Read as
“90 miles per 3hours.”
90 miles
3 hours
Rate:

8. Unit rates are rates in which the second quantity is 1.
The ratio 90 3
can be simplified by dividing: 90 3 30 1 =
30 miles,
1 hour
unit rate:
or 30 mi/h

9. Additional Example 2: Using a Bar Graph to Determine Rates
Use the bar graph to find the number of acres, to the nearest acre, destroyed in Nevada and Alaska per week.
640,000 acres
52 weeks
Nevada =
12,308 acres
1 week 

10. Additional Example 2 Continued
Use the bar graph to find the number of acres, to the nearest acre, destroyed in Nevada and Alaska per week.
750,000 acres
52 weeks
Alaska =
14,423 acres
1 week 

11. 950,000 acres Montana = 52 weeks 18,269 acres 1 week
Try This: Example 2
Use the bar graph to find the number of acres, to the nearest acre, destroyed in Montana and Idaho per week.
950,000 acres
52 weeks
Montana =
18,269 acres
1 week 

12. Try This: Example 2 Continued
Use the bar graph to find the number of acres, to the nearest acre, destroyed in Montana and Idaho per week.
1,400,000 acres
52 weeks
Idaho =
26,923 acres
1 week 

13. Unit price is a unit rate used to compare costs per item.

14. Additional Example 3A: Finding Unit Prices to Compare Costs
Pens can be purchased in a 5-pack for $1.95 or a 15-pack for $ Which is the better buy?
Divide the price by the number of pens.
price for package
number of pens
$1.95 5 = 
$0.39
price for package
number of pens
$6.20 15 = 
$0.41
The better buy is the 5-pack for $1.95.

15. Additional Example 3B: Finding Unit Prices to Compare Costs
Jamie can buy a 15oz jar peanut butter for $2.19 or a 20 oz jar for $ Which is the better buy?
Divide the price by the number of ounces.
price for jar
number of ounces
$2.19 15 = 
$0.15
price for jar
number of ounces
$2.78 20 = 
$0.14
The better buy is the 20-oz jar for $2.78.

16. Try This: Example 3A
Golf balls can be purchased in a 3-pack for $4.95 or a 12-pack for $ Which is the better buy?
Divide the price by the number of balls.
price for package
number of balls
$4.95 3 = 
$1.65
price for package
number of balls
$18.95 12 = 
$1.58
The better buy is the 12-pack for $18.95.

17. Try This: Example 3B
John can buy a 24 oz bottle of ketchup for $2.19 or a 36 oz bottle for $ Which is the better buy?
Divide the price by the number of ounces.
price for bottle
number of ounces
$2.19 24 = 
$0.09
price for bottles
number of ounces
$3.79 36 = 
$0.11
The better buy is the 24-oz jar for $2.19.

18. Lesson Quiz
1. At a family golf outing, a father drove the ball 285 ft. His daughter drove the ball 95 ft. Express the ratio of the father’s distance to his daughter’s in simplest terms.
2. Find the unit price of 6 stamps for $2.22.
3. Find the unit rate of 8 heartbeats in 6 seconds.
4. What is the better buy, a half dozen carnations for $4.75 or a dozen for $9.24?
5. Which is the better buy, four pens for $5.16 or a ten-pack for $12.90?
3:1
$0.37 per stamp
 1.3 beats/s
a dozen
They cost the same.