Final answer:
Rates compare two quantities measured in different units, while unit rates reduce this comparison to one unit. An example of transitioning from a rate to a unit rate is '100 miles in 2 hours' becoming '50 miles per hour'. Unit rates facilitate easier comparison and are used in unit conversions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between rates and unit rates is that a rate compares two quantities measured in different units without necessarily reducing the comparison to a quantity of 1, while a unit rate is a rate that is reduced so that one of the quantities being compared is a single unit. An example of a rate might be '100 miles in 2 hours' which simplifies to '50 miles per hour' as a unit rate because the time has been reduced to 1 hour. This comparison of two different quantities can involve various measurements, not only time.
Additionally, a rate can apply to various scientific contexts where the change of one property is measured over time, such as the rate of a chemical reaction. Contrarily, a unit rate specifically establishes a 1:1 ratio for easier comparison and use, such as when dealing with unit conversions between different measurement systems using conversion factors.