Fractions · twelfths
What Is 3/12?
3/12 is three twelfths: 3 parts out of 12 equal parts.
3/12 means 3 out of 12 equal parts. The bottom number (12) says how many equal parts make the whole. The top number (3) says how many you have. As a decimal it's 0.25, and as a percent it's 25%.
3/12 in pictures
3/12 at a glance
| In words | three twelfths |
| As a decimal | 0.25 |
| As a percent | 25% |
| Simplest form | 1/4 |
| Equal fractions | 1/4, 2/8, 4/16, 5/20 |
| Compared to one half | smaller than 1/2 |
| Left to make a whole | 9/12 |
Is 3/12 in simplest form?
Both 3 and 12 divide by 3: 3 ÷ 3 = 1 and 12 ÷ 3 = 4. So 3/12 simplifies to 1/4, and the two are the same amount of pie.
Fractions equal to 3/12
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number and the amount doesn't change: 3 × 2 = 6 and 12 × 2 = 24, so 3/12 = 6/24. Times 3 gives 9/36. In the bakery, that's the same pie with every slice cut in two, then in three.
More fractions equal to 3/12: 1/4, 2/8, 4/16, 5/20, 6/24. The equivalent fractions lesson shows why this always works.
Is 3/12 bigger than one half?
3/12 is smaller than 1/2. One half of 12 parts is 6, and 3/12 has 3, which is fewer. Next to its neighbors: 2/12 < 3/12 < 4/12.
3/12 in real life
Share the 12 into 12 equal groups: 12 ÷ 12 = 1 in each group. Take 3 groups: 1 × 3 = 3.
An hour has 60 minutes. 60 ÷ 12 = 5, and 5 × 3 = 15 minutes.
Cut into quarters, then split each quarter into three. A clock face already shows twelfths: every hour mark is one twelfth of the way around.
Common mix-ups with 3/12
Swapping the numbers changes everything. 3/12 is less than one whole; 12/3 is more than one whole. The bottom number always says how many equal parts make up the whole.
A pie with 3 filled and 9 empty is not 3/9. That compares the filled part to the empty part. The bottom number counts all 12 parts, filled or not.
Play with 3/12
Saying a definition doesn't make it stick. Finding 3/12 on a pie, a cake and a number line, over and over, does.
The orders in this game keep coming back to 3/12
Free to play · no signup · works on phones, tablets and computers
3/12 FAQ
What is 3/12 as a decimal?
3/12 = 0.25. Divide the top by the bottom: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25.
What is 3/12 as a percent?
3/12 is 25%. Percent means "out of 100", so work out 3 ÷ 12 × 100.
What fractions are equal to 3/12?
1/4, 2/8, 4/16, 5/20, 6/24 and many more. Multiply the top and bottom by the same number to make another.
How do you read 3/12 out loud?
Say "three twelfths".
Is the fraction game really free?
Yes. The whole game plays free in your browser, with no signup, no ads and no time limit. A Fraction Bakery app for iPhone is coming later, but the web game stays free.
Take the bakery with you, soon
A Fraction Bakery app for iPhone is on the way. The plan: offline play for the car, a parent report of which fractions have stuck, and the full bakery shelf of prizes. Until then, the whole game is free right here.
Coming soon on theApp Store