What is 3/12 equivalent to?

2 Answers
Mar 20, 2018

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

Mar 20, 2018

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