Question

What is 3/12 equivalent to?

Answer 1

1/4

Explanation:

We want to simplify using common divisors.

We know that 3 is prime, so it can only be written as `1*3`.

We know that 12 is composite, so it can be written as `1 * 2 * 2 * 3`.

The only common divisor (other than 1) is 3. Therefore, we can take out three from both and get

`3/12 = (1 * 3) / (1 * 2 * 2 * 3) = 1 / (1 * 2 * 2) * 3/3 = 1/4`

Answer 2

`1/4`

Explanation:

`"Equivalent fractions can be formed by multiplying or"`
`"dividing the numerator/denominator of a fraction by"`
`"the same value"`

`"dividing 3 and 12 by 3 using cancelling gives"`

`cancel(3)^1/cancel(12)^4=1/4larrcolor(blue)"in simplest form"`

`"a fraction is in "color(blue)"simplest form ""when no other factor"`
`"but 1 will divide into the numerator/denominator"`

`"multiplying numerator/denominator by the same value"`
`"also gives equivalent fractions"`

`(3xxcolor(red)(2))/(12xxcolor(red)(2))=6/24`

`(3xxcolor(red)(3))/(12xxcolor(red)(3))=9/36`

`1/4,6/24" and "9/36" are some examples of fractions"`
`color(white)(xxx)"equivalent to "3/12`