Da VIP Academy / GED / Math / Ratios & Proportional Reasoning
Ratios & Unit Rates
Write ratios, find unit rates, and compare rates to make decisions.
How it works
A unit rate has 1 in the denominator
240 miles in 4 hours is 240 ÷ 4 = 60 miles per hour. Divide the first quantity by the second to get "per one".
Compare with unit rates
To decide which package is the better buy, divide price by size for both and compare the price per unit — smaller wins.
Worked examples
A recipe uses 3 cups flour to 2 cups sugar. How much sugar for 12 cups flour?
- Flour scaled by 12 ÷ 3 = 4.
- Scale sugar the same way: 2 × 4 = 8.
- Answer: 8 cups.
Words to know
- Rate
- A ratio comparing two different units.
- Unit rate
- A rate expressed per one unit.
Test-day tips
- • Label your units in every step — it stops flipped answers.
- • "Per" signals division.