Final answer:
A unit rate always simplifies to have the number 1 in the denominator, indicating one unit of the second quantity. It's used to describe how many units of the first quantity correspond to one unit of the second quantity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A unit rate is a ratio that compares a quantity to one unit of another quantity, and it is often used to express prices, speeds, or other measurements. When simplified, a unit rate will always have the number 1 in the denominator, which indicates one unit of the second quantity. For example, if we have 88 meters per second, the unit rate is already in its simplest form because it describes how many meters are traveled in one second.
The process of simplifying ratios to unit rates involves dividing both the numerator and the denominator by the numerator. This ensures that the denominator becomes 1. For instance, using the metric system, 100 centimeters is equal to 1 meter; if we divide both by 100 centimeters, the result is 1, showing that the unit rate has been achieved.