Is 3/11 Bigger Than 1/12?

Method 1: Common Denominators

To compare these fractions, we need a common denominator. The denominators are 11 and 12, and the least common denominator (LCD) is 132.

• Step 1. Convert \(\frac{3}{11}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 12.
  \[\frac{3}{11} = \frac{3 \times 12}{11 \times 12} = \frac{36}{132}\]
• Step 2. Convert \(\frac{1}{12}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 11.
  \[\frac{1}{12} = \frac{1 \times 11}{12 \times 11} = \frac{11}{132}\]
• Step 3. Compare the numerators: 36 vs 11.
• Step 4. Since 36 is greater than 11, we know that \(\frac{3}{11} > \frac{1}{12}\).

Method 2: Cross Multiplication

A quicker way to compare fractions is to cross-multiply. Multiply each numerator by the other fraction's denominator:

• Step 1. Multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second: \(3 \times 12 = 36\).
• Step 2. Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the denominator of the first: \(1 \times 11 = 11\).
• Step 3. Compare the products: \(36 > 11\), so \(\frac{3}{11} > \frac{1}{12}\).

Method 3: Decimal Comparison

Convert each fraction to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator:

Since 0.272727 is greater than 0.083333, we confirm that \(\frac{3}{11} > \frac{1}{12}\). In percentage terms, \(\frac{3}{11}\) is 27.2727% and \(\frac{1}{12}\) is 8.3333%, a difference of 18.9394 percentage points.

Why Does This Work?

These fractions have different numerators and different denominators, so we can't compare them directly. By converting to a common denominator of 132, we're cutting both quantities into equal-sized pieces. Then 36 pieces vs 11 pieces is a straightforward comparison.