Let A = RxR and * be a binary operation on A defined by (a, b) * (c, d) = (a + c, b + d). Show that * is commutative and associative. Find the binary element for * on A, if any.

A = R X R


For the ‘ * ’ to be commutative, p * q = p * q must be true for all p, q belong to A. Let’s check.
Note: Here p, q
A represent the ordered pairs (a, b) and (c, d) respectively.


p * q = (a, b) * (c, d) = (a + c, b + d)
q * p = (c, d) * (a, b) = (c + a, d + b) = (a + c, b + d)
p * q = q * p (binary operation * is commutative)


For the ‘ * ’ to be associative, a * (b * c) = (a * b) * c must hold for every a, b, c A. Here r = (e, f)


p * (q * r) = (a, b) * ((c, d) * (e, f)) = (a, b) * (c + e, d + f) = (a + c + e, b + d + f)
(p * q) * r = ((a, b) * (c, d)) * (e, f) = (a + c, b + d) * (e, f) = (a + c + e, b + d + f)
p * (q * r) = (p * q) * r (Associative)


Binary elements:


Identity Element: Given a binary operation*: A X A A, an element e A, if it exists, is called an identity of the operation*, if p*e = p = e*p p A.


Here p = (a, b) and e = (x, y). For the element e to exist,


(a, b) * (x, y) = (a, b)
(a + x, b + y) = (a, b)
a + x = a, b + y = b
Since, ordered pairs are only equal when both the first and second terms are equal
x = 0, y = 0
Hence the identity element e = (x, y) = (0, 0)


Given a binary operation with the identity element e in A, an element a A is said to be invertible with respect to the operation, if there exists an element b in A such that a * b = e = b * a and b is called the inverse of a and is denoted by a–1.


Let i = (r, s) be the inverse of p = (a, b) in A.


Therefore, (r, s) * (a, b) = e = (0, 0)
(r + a, s + b) = (0, 0)
r + a = 0, r + b = 0
r = – a, s = – b


Therefore, (r, s) = ( – a, – b) is the inverse pair.


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