Check the commutativity and associativity of each of the following binary operations:

*’ on Q defined by a*b = ab + 1 for all a,bQ

Given that * is a binary operation on Q defined by a*b = ab + 1 for all a,bQ.


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 = ab + 1


b*a = ba + 1 = ab + 1


b*a = a*b


Commutative property holds for given binary operation * on Q.


We know that associative property is (p*q)*r = p*(q*r)


Let’s check the associativity of given binary operation:


(a*b)*c = (ab + 1)*c


(a*b)*c = ((ab + 1)×c) + 1


(a*b)*c = abc + c + 1 ...... (1)


a*(b*c) = a*(bc + 1)


a*(b*c) = (a×(bc + 1)) + 1


a*(b*c) = abc + a + 1 ...... (2)


From (1) and (2) we can clearly say that associativity doesn’t hold for the binary operation ‘*’ on ‘Q’.


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