Step-by-step explanation:
A "reduced" fraction is one that has mutually prime numerator and denominator. That is, the numerator and denominator have no common factors.
A fraction is "reduced" by canceling common factors from numerator and denominator. If "a" is a factor common to the numerator and denominator of a fraction, that fraction can be written with "a" canceled from each:
![(ab)/(ac)=(a)/(a)\cdot(b)/(c)=1\cdot(b)/(c)=(b)/(c)](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/l8qags8z7ro3rr534rj264oryeqkwg8b2u.png)
Here is a numerical example:
![(2)/(4)=(2\cdot 1)/(2\cdot 2)=(2)/(2)\cdot(1)/(2)=(1)/(2)](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/ti04fwk5ewwgyryt48dqe2syw63mh0g1v6.png)
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A numerator factor and a denominator factor "cancel" because their ratio is 1, the identity element for multiplication. Anything times 1 is just that thing.