I have two methods. The first method needs 30 steps to be done. The second method needs only 10-15 steps. I would like to compare the steps that each method needed to be done.

Here is my sentence:

1. 1- The number of iterations is reduced to (almost) the half of the iterations that the EM-method needed to converge when not using the second method.

or

2. The number of iteration of the second method was (almost) the half of the iteration that was required for the first method.

Which one of my sentences is correct? any help, please? if none of them is correct, could you please help me to write it in an expectable way.

I have two methods. The first method needs 30 steps to be done. The second method needs only 10-15 steps. I would like to compare the steps that each method needed to be done.

Here is my sentence:

1. 1- The number of iterations is reduced to (almost) the half of the iterations that the EM-method needed to converge when not using the second method.

or

2. The number of iteration of the second method was (almost) the half of the iteration that was required for the first method.

Which one is correct?

Another sentence:

All models show poor fit, where the first model is the poorest one.

Is this a correct comparison in English?

Any help, please?