17. Reduce the fraction \( 14 / 28 \) to its lowest terms. \( \begin{array}{l}3 / 7 \\ 1 / 2 \\ 7 / 14 \\ 28 / 14\end{array} \)

To reduce the fraction \( 14 / 28 \) to its lowest terms, you can divide both the numerator (14) and the denominator (28) by their greatest common divisor (GCD), which is 14. So, \( 14 ÷ 14 = 1 \) and \( 28 ÷ 14 = 2 \), making the reduced fraction \( 1 / 2 \). Now, why does this matter? Simplifying fractions helps in many real-world contexts, like cooking or budgeting, where you want your ratios clear and easy to understand. For example, if you have a recipe that calls for 14 cups of flour for every 28 cups of sugar, knowing that ratio simplifies baking delicious treats!