Final answer:
Option (a), Hieratic script is the simplified version of hieroglyphics utilized for practical purposes in ancient Egypt, offering a quicker way to write compared to the complex hieroglyphic system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The simplified version of hieroglyphics developed by the ancient Egyptians is known as hieratic script. It originated alongside the formal hieroglyphic system but was used primarily for more practical purposes such as recording everyday events and commercial transactions due to its quicker and more simplified way of writing. The hieroglyphic system itself was quite complex, combining alphabetic, syllabic, and word signs with pictorial representations to convey both sounds and ideas.