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

‘*’ on Q defined by a*b = gcd(a,b) for all a,bQ

Given that * is a binary operation on Q defined by a*b = g.c.d(a,b) 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 = g.c.d(a,b)


b*a = g.c.d(b,a) = g.c.d(a,b)


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 = (g.c.d(a,b))*c


(a*b)*c = g.c.d(g.c.d(a,b),c)


(a*b)*c = g.c.d(a,b,c) ...... (1)


a*(b*c) = a*(g.c.d(b,c))


a*(b*c) = g.c.d(a,g.c.d(b,c))


a*(b*c) = g.c.d(a,b,c) ...... (2)


From (1) and (2) we can clearly say that associativity hold for the binary operation ‘*’ on ‘Q’.


4