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Multiplicative Comparison and Unit Rate

How many times as much, and how much per single unit, are two faces of the same relationship. Learners find a per-unit value (per kilogram, per hour as speed, fraction of a number) and scale it up, including reading speed as the slope of a distance-time graph. Unit-rate reasoning underlies proportions and all later rate work.

grade 3–4 Measurement & dataBase-ten numbersFractionsOperations Analyze the UnitsConvert to Algebra

Builds on: Division as the Inverse of Multiplication

Progression (7)

g4 1. Distance grows in proportion to time Measurement & dataOperations · foundational
g4 2. Speed is distance per unit time Measurement & dataOperations · foundational
g3 3. Fraction of a number: divide then multiply FractionsOperations · core
g3 4. Find the per-unit-weight rate first OperationsMeasurement & data · core
g4 5. How many times the unit quantity OperationsBase-ten numbers · core
g4 6. Find the value of one unit Base-ten numbersOperations · advanced
g5 7. Slope of a time-distance line graph is speed Measurement & data · advanced

Bridges to competition (3)

Reasoning problems that extend this idea toward competition:

Broken Clock: Constant Error Rate Other → Arithmetic Expression Decomposition
Meeting time of two movers Other → Meeting Time with Piecewise Rates
Comparing speeds and distances Other → Arithmetic Expression Decomposition

Leads to competition types: Arithmetic Expression DecompositionMeeting Time with Piecewise Rates