Final answer:
An equivalent fraction to three twelfths with a smaller denominator is one fourth, found by dividing both the numerator (3) and the denominator (12) by their common factor, which is 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fraction that is equivalent to three twelfths (3/12) and also has a denominator less than 12 is one fourth (1/4). To find this equivalent fraction, we look for a common factor between the numerator and the denominator. Since both 3 and 12 are divisible by 3, we can simplify 3/12 by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by 3. This gives us:
- Numerator: 3 ÷ 3 = 1
- Denominator: 12 ÷ 3 = 4
So, the equivalent fraction with a denominator less than 12 is 1/4.