1. What a Rate Means: Two Units at Once

A rate compares two quantities with different units. The keyword is usually per, which means "for each 1."

Examples:

• 60 miles per hour
• 12 dollars per hour
• 25 cents per ounce
• 150 words per minute

A rate always has two jobs: the number and the units. Writing "60" is incomplete. Writing "60 miles per hour" tells what is being measured.

Worked example: A car travels 180 miles in 3 hours.
\[ \text{rate}=\frac{180\text{ miles}}{3\text{ hours}}=60\text{ miles per hour}. \]

Why this matters: GED® word problems often hide division inside everyday language. If you see "in," "for," "per," or "each," ask whether a rate is being described.

Case study - reading plan: A student reads 45 pages in 5 days. The reading rate is
\[ \frac{45\text{ pages}}{5\text{ days}}=9\text{ pages per day}. \]

Common mistake: dropping the unit. "9" is not the full answer; "9 pages per day" is the meaningful answer.