Is 9/10 Bigger Than 1/12?

Method 1: Common Denominators

To compare these fractions, we need a common denominator. The denominators are 10 and 12, and the least common denominator (LCD) is 60.

• Step 1. Convert \(\frac{9}{10}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 6.
  \[\frac{9}{10} = \frac{9 \times 6}{10 \times 6} = \frac{54}{60}\]
• Step 2. Convert \(\frac{1}{12}\): multiply numerator and denominator by 5.
  \[\frac{1}{12} = \frac{1 \times 5}{12 \times 5} = \frac{5}{60}\]
• Step 3. Compare the numerators: 54 vs 5.
• Step 4. Since 54 is greater than 5, we know that \(\frac{9}{10} > \frac{1}{12}\).

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: \(9 \times 12 = 108\).
• Step 2. Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the denominator of the first: \(1 \times 10 = 10\).
• Step 3. Compare the products: \(108 > 10\), so \(\frac{9}{10} > \frac{1}{12}\).

Method 3: Decimal Comparison

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

Since 0.9 is greater than 0.083333, we confirm that \(\frac{9}{10} > \frac{1}{12}\). In percentage terms, \(\frac{9}{10}\) is 90% and \(\frac{1}{12}\) is 8.3333%, a difference of 81.6667 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 60, we're cutting both quantities into equal-sized pieces. Then 54 pieces vs 5 pieces is a straightforward comparison.