The binary operation * is defined by on the set Q if all rational numbers. Show that * is associative.

Given that * is a binary operation on Q defined by for all a,bQ.


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


Let’s check the associativity of given binary operation:




...... (1)




...... (2)


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


12