Math Vocabulary Words: Rates and Ratios
unit rate
A rate that is simplified so that it has a denominator of 1. Example: 4 students to 1 table
ratio
A ratio is a comparison of two numbers by division. A common way to express a ratio is as a fraction, 2/3. A ratio can be written three ways: 2/3, 2 to 3, 2:3.
ratio table
A ratio table organizes data into columns that are filled with pairs of numbers that have the same ratio, or are equivalent.
rate
A ratio that compares two or more numbers by division but has different units (labels). Example:2 oranges : 3 bananas.
proportion
An equation stating that two ratios or rates are equivalent; fraction bar equals fraction bar.
equivalent ratio
Ratios that express the same relationship between two quantities. Example: Since 10/6 and 25/15 both simplify to 5/3, they are equivalent. You can use cross products to find these or equivalent fractions. See teacher for help or a review!
unit price
This is a special type of rate that has money in the numerator simplified to 1unit in the denominator. Example: $3.50/1 Gatorade
better buy
This is what it is called when you do a comparison of two or more different unit prices to determine which one has a lowest unit price.
solve a proportion
This means to find the unknown value in the proportion. By finding cross products then balancing the equation, you will do this.
proportional
Two quantities are said to be this if they have a constant ratio. If you compare the unit rates of the two ratios and they ARE the SAME, then the ratios are this to each other.
