Compare "Unit Rates" with "Ratios" ?

1 Answer
Apr 1, 2017

A unit rate is the value of 1 entity
A ratio is the relative proportion of 2 entities

Explanation:

#1#. Unit Rates:

Consider n units of some commodity costs $x

#:. 1# unit of the commodity would cost $#x/n#

We could say that the "unit cost" of the commodity is $#x/n#

NB: The concept of unit rate need not apply to cost but rather any measure of unit volume of the entity.

#2#. Ratios

Consider a ratio #a:b# where #a# and #b# are measures of the same entity.

If we are told that #a:b# as #x:y#

Then #a/b = x/y#

Hence: #ay = bx#

As an example, consider #a:b# as #1:2#

Hence: #2a = b -># #b# is twice as large as #a#

Hope this helps!