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Mathematics vocabulary · Word Problems

Rate

Meaning in mathematics, with examples

/reɪt/nounCore term

In mathematics, rate means: A ratio that compares two quantities measured in different units, such as kilometres per hour or litres per minute.

In Turkish: hız, oran, birim başına miktar

How it is used

Used in speed, work and filling problems: 'at a rate of 60 km per hour', 'pipe A fills the tank at a rate of 5 litres per minute'. In calculus, the 'rate of change' is what the derivative measures. Other uses include interest rate and exchange rate.

Example sentences

  1. A tap fills the tank at a rate of 12 litres per minute. How long does it take to fill 300 litres?

  2. Working together, they paint at a combined rate of one room every three hours.

Common collocations

  • at a rate of
  • rate of change
  • constant rate
  • rate per hour
  • interest rate
  • ratioA comparison of two or more quantities that shows how big one is compared with the other, written like 3:2 and read 'three to two'.
  • proportionalChanging together with another quantity so that their ratio stays fixed; if y is proportional to x, doubling x also doubles y.
  • averageA single value that represents a group of numbers, usually their total divided by how many there are; the average of 4, 6 and 11 is 7.
  • derivativeA function that gives the rate of change of another function at each point, which is the slope of its graph there; the derivative of x² is 2x.
  • word problemA maths question written as a short story or real-life situation, which you must turn into numbers or equations before solving it.

More terms: Word Problems

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