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Determine which of the following binary operations are associative and which are commutative: * on N defined by a*b = 1 for all a,b N |
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Answer» Given that * is a binary operation on N defined by a*b = 1 for all a,b∈N. We know that commutative property is p*q = q*p, where * is a binary operation. Let’s check the commutativity of given binary operation: ⇒ a*b = 1 ⇒ b*a = 1 ⇒ b*a = a*b ∴ The commutative property holds for given binary operation ‘*’ on ‘N’. We know that associative property is (p*q)*r = p*(q*r) Let’s check the associativity of given binary operation: ⇒ (a*b)*c = (1)*c ⇒ (a*b)*c = 1*c ⇒ (a*b)*c = 1 ...... (1) ⇒ a*(b*c) = a*(1) ⇒ a*(b*c) = a*1 ⇒ a*(b*c) = 1 ...... (2) From (1) and (2) we can clearly say that, Associative property holds for given binary operation ‘*’ on ‘N’ |
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