What is one quarter (1/4) of 12?

Introduction / Context:
This is a basic fraction question that checks understanding of the phrase one quarter and how to compute a fraction of a whole number. Mastery of simple fractional operations like taking one half, one third, or one quarter is essential for more advanced problems involving fractions, percentages, and ratios.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We have the whole number 12.
• The fraction we need is one quarter, which is 1 / 4.
• We must compute 1 / 4 of 12.
• All values are positive integers, and standard fraction multiplication rules apply.

Concept / Approach:
One quarter of a number means dividing the number into four equal parts and taking one part. Mathematically, one quarter of a number N is (1 / 4) * N. For integer values, this boils down to dividing the number by 4. This interpretation also reinforces the notion that a fraction denotes a part of a whole.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret one quarter of 12 as (1 / 4) * 12. Step 2: Multiply 1 by 12 to get 12, then divide by 4: 12 / 4. Step 3: Compute 12 / 4 = 3. Step 4: Therefore, 1 / 4 of 12 is 3.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think of 12 objects, for example 12 apples. If you split them equally into 4 groups, each group will contain 12 / 4 = 3 apples. Taking one of these groups corresponds exactly to one quarter of the total, confirming that one quarter of 12 is 3.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
4: This would be one third of 12, not one quarter.
2: This would be one sixth of 12, not one quarter.
1: This would be one twelfth of 12, not one quarter.
6: This would be one half of 12, not one quarter.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse one quarter with 0.25, then incorrectly apply it. While 0.25 * 12 also equals 3, if rounding is used or misunderstood, errors can occur. Others may think of one quarter as dividing by 2 twice but may make a slip in one of the steps. Keeping the fraction form 1 / 4 and directly dividing by 4 is usually the safest approach.

Final Answer:
One quarter of 12 is 3.