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In the fraction 5/12, what does the 12 represent?

  1. The numerator

  2. The denominator

  3. The mixed number

  4. The improper fraction

The correct answer is: The denominator

In the fraction 5/12, the number 12 is the denominator. The denominator indicates how many equal parts the whole is divided into. In this case, it tells us that the whole is divided into 12 equal parts. The numerator, which is 5 in this case, indicates how many of those parts are being considered. So, the denominator is crucial for understanding the value of the fraction, as it establishes the total number of parts that make up one whole. The other options don't apply to 12 in this context: it is not the numerator since that is the 5; it is not a mixed number, which typically consists of a whole number and a proper fraction; and it is not an improper fraction, as that term refers to fractions where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. These distinctions affirm that the correct answer is indeed that 12 represents the denominator.