12/60 = 20%
A fraction like 12/60 can show up in everyday life when 12 out of 60 students join a club, 12 out of 60 products are on sale, or 12 out of 60 minutes have passed. In each case, the amount is 20%, which is one-fifth of the whole.
To picture 12/60 quickly, imagine a group divided into five equal sections and shade one section. It is also close to a small but noticeable portion, like 20 cents out of every dollar.
A common mistake is thinking that 12/60 is 12%, because people may focus on the numerator and ignore the denominator. The denominator matters because it tells you the total number of parts being considered.
