If it takes 5 minutes to read 300 words how many words per minute does this represent? Also how many minutes does it take to read 1 word?

1 Answer
Jan 31, 2017

Unit rate is #0.016bar6# minutes per word

Unit rate is 60 words per minute

Explanation:

Note that the question states particular units. It is good practise to use the same units of measurements in your answer.

The words: "each rate" taken to mean 2 conditions

Condition 1: Unit is to be 1 word

Condition 2: Unit is to be 1 minute.

Let the unknown value be #x#
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#color(blue)("Solving for condition 1")#

Write as a ratio in fractional format #-> ("time")/("word count")-=("time")/1#

#5/300 -= (5-:300)/(300-:300) = (0.016bar6)/1=x/1#

Unit rate is #0.016bar6# minutes per word

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#color(blue)("Solving for condition 2")#

Write as a ratio in fractional format

# ("word count")/("time")-=("word count")/1=x/1#

#x/1=(300-:5)/(5-:5) =60/1#

Unit rate is 60 words per minute
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#color(blue)("Interesting fact")#

60 words per minute #->60/1 #

However, if you invert this (turn upside down) then you get the other rate

#1/60-> 1-:60 = 0.016bar6#