What is 1/6 of 72?

How to calculate 1/6 of 72?

1. Multiply the whole number by the numerator of the fraction: 72 × 1 = 72
2. Divide this result by denominator of the fraction: 72/6 = 12
3. Simplify by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their GCD (6):
   • 72/6 = 12
   • 6/6 = 1
4. Which gives: 12/1

How does it work?

The principle behind finding a fraction of a number, such as 1/6 of 72, is rooted in the method of cross-multiplication.

Consider the following proportion: $\frac{1}{6}=\frac{x}{72}$ (where x represents 1/6 of 72)

1. Using the cross-multiplication method, multiply both numerators by their opposite denominators: $1\times 72=6x$
2. Which gives: $72=6x$
3. Divide both sides by 6 to isolate x: $\frac{72}{6}=\frac{6x}{6}$
4. Which gives the result: $\frac{72}{6}=x$ (or $\frac{12}{1}=x$)

Thus, 1/6 of 72 is equal to 12/1 (or 12 in its decimal form).