diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/math/Fraction.java b/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/math/Fraction.java
index 94f5bd697..3fa6a4fed 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/math/Fraction.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/math/Fraction.java
@@ -189,9 +189,12 @@ public static Fraction getFraction(int whole, int numerator, int denominator) {
     }
 
     /**
-     * <p>Creates a <code>Fraction</code> instance with the 2 parts
+     * <p>Creates a reduced <code>Fraction</code> instance with the 2 parts
      * of a fraction Y/Z.</p>
      *
+     * <p>For example, if the input parameters represent 2/4, then the created
+     * fraction will be 1/2.</p>
+     *
      * <p>Any negative signs are resolved to be on the numerator.</p>
      *
      * @param numerator  the numerator, for example the three in 'three sevenths'
@@ -448,12 +451,18 @@ public double doubleValue() {
 
     /**
      * <p>Reduce the fraction to the smallest values for the numerator and
-     * denominator, returning the result..</p>
+     * denominator, returning the result.</p>
+     * 
+     * <p>For example, if this fraction represents 2/4, then the result
+     * will be 1/2.</p>
      *
-     * @return a new reduce fraction instance, or this if no simplification possible
+     * @return a new reduced fraction instance, or this if no simplification possible
      */
     public Fraction reduce() {
         int gcd = greatestCommonDivisor(Math.abs(numerator), denominator);
+        if (gcd == 1) {
+            return this;
+        }
         return Fraction.getFraction(numerator / gcd, denominator / gcd);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/math/FractionTest.java b/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/math/FractionTest.java
index e4f2660b7..89abdc8d7 100644
--- a/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/math/FractionTest.java
+++ b/src/test/org/apache/commons/lang/math/FractionTest.java
@@ -615,14 +615,31 @@ public void testReduce() {
         Fraction f = null;
         
         f = Fraction.getFraction(50, 75);
-        f = f.reduce();
-        assertEquals(2, f.getNumerator());
-        assertEquals(3, f.getDenominator());
+        Fraction result = f.reduce();
+        assertEquals(2, result.getNumerator());
+        assertEquals(3, result.getDenominator());
+
+        f = Fraction.getFraction(-2, -3);
+        result = f.reduce();
+        assertEquals(2, result.getNumerator());
+        assertEquals(3, result.getDenominator());
+
+        f = Fraction.getFraction(2, -3);
+        result = f.reduce();
+        assertEquals(-2, result.getNumerator());
+        assertEquals(3, result.getDenominator());
+
+        f = Fraction.getFraction(-2, 3);
+        result = f.reduce();
+        assertEquals(-2, result.getNumerator());
+        assertEquals(3, result.getDenominator());
+        assertSame(f, result);
 
         f = Fraction.getFraction(2, 3);
-        f = f.reduce();
-        assertEquals(2, f.getNumerator());
-        assertEquals(3, f.getDenominator());
+        result = f.reduce();
+        assertEquals(2, result.getNumerator());
+        assertEquals(3, result.getDenominator());
+        assertSame(f, result);
     }
     
     public void testInvert() {