Let Q+ be the set of all positive rational numbers.

(i) Show that the operation * on Q+ defined by is a binary operation.


(ii) Show that * is commutative.


(iii) Show that * is not associative.


(i) * is an operation as where a, b Q+. Let and b = 2 two integers.


So, * is a binary operation from .


(ii) For commutative binary operation, a*b = b*a.



Since a*b = b*a, hence * is a commutative binary operation.


(iii) For associative binary operation, a*(b*c) = (a*b) *c.




As a*(b*c) ≠(a*b) *c, hence * is not associative binary operation.


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