What is 1/4 of 12?

How to calculate 1/4 of 12?

1. Multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction: 12 × 1 = 12
2. Divide this result by denominator of the fraction: 12/4 = 3
3. Simplify by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCD (4):
   • 12/4 = 3
   • 4/4 = 1
4. Which gives: 3/1

How does it work?

The principle behind finding a fraction of a number, such as 1/4 of 12, is rooted in the method of cross-multiplication.

Consider the following proportion: $\frac{1}{4}=\frac{x}{12}$ (where x represents 1/4 of 12)

1. Using the cross-multiplication method, multiply both numerators by their opposite denominators: $1\times 12=4x$
2. Which gives: $12=4x$
3. Divide both sides by 4 to isolate x: $\frac{12}{4}=\frac{4x}{4}$
4. Which gives the result: $\frac{12}{4}=x$ (or $\frac{3}{1}=x$)

Thus, 1/4 of 12 is equal to 3/1 (or 3 in its decimal form).