Unit Rate Word Problems (teacher made) - Twinkl - Free Printable

Let’s solve each problem one by one. We’ll use unit rates — that means finding the cost or amount for one item, then using that to answer the question.

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Problem 1:
Sam buys 4 cans of corned beef for $5.60. He wants to know how much a single can costs.

→ Divide total cost by number of cans:
$5.60 ÷ 4 = $1.40

✔ Each can costs $1.40

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Problem 2:
Selena buys a laptop with a 19% discount for $27.50. What was the original price?

Wait — this is tricky. If she paid $27.50 *after* a 19% discount, that means $27.50 is 81% of the original price (because 100% - 19% = 81%).

So let’s call the original price “P”.

Then:
0.81 × P = $27.50

To find P:
P = $27.50 ÷ 0.81 ≈ $33.95

But wait — looking at the worksheet again, it says “a large bag of 19” — maybe it’s not a percentage? Let me re-read.

Actually, looking at the text: “Selena purchases a large bag of 19’ El Salvadorian darkgreen tablets for $27.50.” That doesn’t make sense as a discount. Maybe it’s a typo and it’s supposed to be “19 tablets”? But then why say “large bag”?

Wait — perhaps it’s “19% off” but written poorly. But in context, other problems are straightforward unit rate. Let me check Problem 3:

“Lilia purchases a pack of 16 washable markers for $13.44. What is the price per marker?”

That’s clear: divide total by number.

Maybe Problem 2 is also just dividing? But it says “large bag of 19” — maybe it’s 19 items? Then:

$27.50 ÷ 19 ≈ $1.45 per tablet? But that seems odd.

Alternatively, maybe “19’” is a typo and should be “for $19”? No, it says “for $27.50”.

Looking back at the image description — actually, in the user’s image, Problem 2 says:

> Selena purchases a large bag of 19’ El Salvadorian darkgreen tablets for $27.50. What is the price per tablet?

The “19’” might mean 19 units? Like 19 tablets? That makes sense.

So: $27.50 ÷ 19 = ?

Let’s calculate:

19 × 1.4 = 26.6
27.50 - 26.60 = 0.90
0.90 ÷ 19 ≈ 0.047 → so about $1.447 → round to nearest cent: $1.45

But let’s do exact division:

27.50 ÷ 19 = 2750 ÷ 1900 = better to do decimal:

19 ) 27.50
19 goes into 27 once → 19, subtract → 8.50
Bring down 0 → 85.0
19 × 4 = 76 → subtract → 9.0
Bring down 0 → 90
19 × 4 = 76 → subtract → 14
Bring down 0 → 140
19 × 7 = 133 → subtract → 7
So approximately 1.447... → $1.45

But wait — maybe it’s 19% discount? The wording is ambiguous. However, since all other problems are simple unit rate (divide total by quantity), and this says “large bag of 19”, I think it’s safe to assume 19 tablets.

So: $27.50 ÷ 19 = $1.45 (rounded)

But let’s confirm with calculator-style:

27.50 / 19 = 1.447368... → yes, $1.45 when rounded to nearest cent.

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Problem 3:
Lilia buys 16 markers for $13.44. Price per marker?

$13.44 ÷ 16

16 × 0.8 = 12.80
13.44 - 12.80 = 0.64
0.64 ÷ 16 = 0.04
So 0.8 + 0.04 = 0.84

Or directly: 13.44 ÷ 16 = 0.84

✔ $0.84 per marker

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Problem 4:
Hugo buys 8 boxes of tissues for $14.32. Cost per box?

$14.32 ÷ 8

8 × 1.79 = 14.32? Let’s see:

8 × 1.7 = 13.6
8 × 0.09 = 0.72 → 13.6 + 0.72 = 14.32 → yes!

So $1.79 per box.

✔ $1.79

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Problem 5:
Sebastian buys 6 bags of pretzels for $12.50. How much per bag?

$12.50 ÷ 6

6 × 2 = 12 → remainder 0.50
0.50 ÷ 6 ≈ 0.0833...

So 2 + 0.0833 = 2.0833... → $2.08 (rounded to nearest cent)

Check: 6 × 2.08 = 12.48 → close, but we have 12.50, so actually:

12.50 ÷ 6 = 2.08333... → which rounds to $2.08 if we truncate, but standard rounding: look at third decimal — 3, so round down → still $2.08.

But let’s be precise: 12.50 / 6 = 1250 / 600 = 125/60 = 25/12 ≈ 2.0833 → so to nearest cent: $2.08

However, sometimes money is rounded up if it’s half a cent or more, but here it’s 0.333 cents, so definitely $2.08.

Wait — 25/12 = 2 and 1/12 ≈ 2.0833, so yes, $2.08.

But let me double-check: 6 × 2.08 = 12.48, which is 2 cents short. So maybe they expect exact fraction? But no, money is to nearest cent.

Actually, 12.50 ÷ 6 = 2.08333..., so the thousandths place is 3, which is less than 5, so we round down → $2.08

But some might argue to round to $2.08, but let's see: if you pay $2.08 per bag, 6 bags cost $12.48, but he paid $12.50, so there's a discrepancy. Perhaps it's better to leave as fraction or accept rounding.

In real life, prices are set per item, so likely $2.08 is fine, but technically, the exact unit price is $2.0833..., so for homework, we'll go with $2.08

Wait — let's calculate exactly:

12.50 ÷ 6 = 1250 ÷ 600 = 125 ÷ 60 = 25 ÷ 12 = 2.08333...

Rounded to nearest cent: look at the third decimal digit, which is 3 < 5, so round down → $2.08

Yes.

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Problem 6:
Cass orders paper: 20-pound ream costs $41.49 for 5000 sheets. Cost per sheet?

$41.49 ÷ 5000

First, 41.49 ÷ 5000 = ?

Divide by 1000 first: 0.04149, then divide by 5: 0.008298

So $0.008298 per sheet.

But usually, we express in cents or dollars to several decimals.

Since it's per sheet, and very small, we can write as $0.0083 or 0.83 cents.

But let's keep in dollars: 41.49 / 5000 = ?

Calculate: 4149 / 500000 = ? Better:

41.49 ÷ 5000 = 0.008298

So approximately $0.0083 per sheet (rounded to nearest ten-thousandth, but typically for such small amounts, we might leave as is or round appropriately).

But the question asks for cost per sheet, so we should give a precise value.

41.49 ÷ 5000 = 0.008298 → which is $0.0083 if rounded to four decimal places, but since it's money, sometimes they expect more precision.

Note: 0.008298 dollars = 0.8298 cents, so about 0.83 cents per sheet.

But I think for the answer, we'll put $0.0083 or perhaps 0.83¢, but since the input is in dollars, output in dollars.

Looking at similar problems, they might expect the decimal.

Let me compute exactly: 41.49 / 5000 = 4149 / 500000 = simplify? Divide numerator and denominator by... or just decimal.

41.49 ÷ 5000 = 0.008298 → so to five decimal places: 0.00830? But let's see what's standard.

Perhaps leave as fraction: 4149/500000 dollars, but that's not helpful.

I think for practical purposes, $0.0083 is fine, but let's check calculation:

5000 × 0.008 = 40.00
41.49 - 40.00 = 1.49
1.49 / 5000 = 0.000298
So total 0.008 + 0.000298 = 0.008298 → yes.

So $0.0083 per sheet (rounded to nearest ten-thousandth).

But perhaps the problem expects it in cents? No, it says "how much does each sheet cost", and others are in dollars, so dollars.

We'll go with $0.0083

But let's see if it's exact: 41.49 / 5000 = 4149/500000 = reduce by dividing by... gcd? Probably not necessary.

For homework, $0.0083 is acceptable.

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Problem 7:
Two packs of 10 chocolate bars for $26 or 12 for $34.40. Which is better deal?

Find price per bar for each.

First option: 10 bars for $26 → $26 ÷ 10 = $2.60 per bar

Second option: 12 bars for $34.40 → $34.40 ÷ 12

Calculate: 34.40 ÷ 12

12 × 2 = 24, subtract → 10.40
12 × 0.8 = 9.6, subtract → 0.80
12 × 0.0666... = 0.80, so 2 + 0.8 + 0.0666 = 2.8666...

Exactly: 34.40 ÷ 12 = 3440 ÷ 1200 = 344 ÷ 120 = 86 ÷ 30 = 43 ÷ 15 ≈ 2.8666...

So $2.87 per bar (rounded)

Compare: $2.60 vs $2.87 → first option is cheaper per bar.

So the pack of 10 for $26 is the better deal

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Problem 8:
Sergio is buying ink: brand A offers 20 cards for $34, brand B offers 25 cards for $37.50. Which is better?

Price per card.

Brand A: $34 ÷ 20 = $1.70 per card

Brand B: $37.50 ÷ 25 = ?

37.50 ÷ 25 = 3750 ÷ 2500 = 375 ÷ 250 = 75 ÷ 50 = 15 ÷ 10 = 1.5

So $1.50 per card

Compare: $1.70 vs $1.50 → brand B is cheaper per card.

So brand B is the better deal

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Now, let's summarize all answers:

1. $1.40
2. $1.45 (assuming 19 tablets)
3. $0.84
4. $1.79
5. $2.08
6. $0.0083
7. Pack of 10 for $26
8. Brand B (25 cards for $37.50)

But for problem 2, I'm still unsure. Let me double-check the original text.

In the user's message, it says: "Selena purchases a large bag of 19’ El Salvadorian darkgreen tablets for $27.50."

The "19’" might be a typo. In many worksheets, it could be "19%" but that would be unusual for a unit rate problem. Alternatively, it might be "19 oz" or something, but it says "tablets".

Perhaps it's "19 pieces"? I think my initial assumption is correct.

Another thought: in some contexts, "19'" might mean 19 feet, but that doesn't make sense for tablets.

I think it's safe to proceed with 19 tablets.

So final answers:

Final Answer:
1. $1.40
2. $1.45
3. $0.84
4. $1.79
5. $2.08
6. $0.0083
7. The pack of 10 for $26
8. Brand B (25 cards for $37.50)