BINARY OPERATION

Binary operation is any rule of combination of any two elements of a given non
empty set. The rule of combination of two elements of a set may give rise to another
element which may or not belong to the set under consideration.
It is usually denoted by * and other symbols such as ∇, Ө e.t.c. The most familiar
examples of binary operation are those of addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division of real numbers.
PROPERTIES:
A. Closure property: A non- empty set Z is closed under a binary operation * if
for all a, b € Z there exist a*b€Z.
Example1: A binary operation * is defined on the set S= {0, 1, 2, 3, 4} by
x*y = x + y –xy. Find (a) 2 * 4 (b) 3* 1 (c) 0* 3. Is the set S closed under the
operation *?
Solution
(a) 2 ∗ 4, 𝑖. 𝑒, 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 4
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒,
2 ∗ 4 = 2 + 4 – (2𝑥4)
= 6−8
= −2.
(b)3 ∗ 1 = 3 + 1 − ( 3𝑥 1)
= 4– 3
= 1
(c) 0 ∗ 3 = 0 + 3 – ( 0 𝑥3)
= 3
For (a) Since -2∉S, therefore the operation * is not closed in S. But for (b) and
(c)1 and 3 are element of set S(ie1,3€S) hence the operation is close in S.

B. Commutative Property: If set S, a non-empty set is closed under the binary

operation *, for all a,b€ S. Then the operation * is commutative if
𝒂∗𝒃 = 𝒃∗𝒂
Therefore, a binary operation is commutative if the order of combination
does not affect the result.
Example 2: If x,y€ R where R is the set of real numbers then x+y = y+x and also
𝑥 × 𝑦 = 𝑦 × 𝑥 but 𝑦 − 𝑥 ≠ 𝑥 − 𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 ÷ 𝑥 ≠ 𝑥 ÷ 𝑦. Then addition and
multiplication of real numbers are commutative while subtraction and division are
not commutative.
Example 3: The operation * on the set R of real numbers is defined by:
p*q= p3 + q3-3pq. Is the operation commutative?
Solution
p*q= p3 + q3 -3pq
Commutative condition p*q= q*p
To obtain q*p, use the same operation q*p, use the same operation p*q but replace
p by q and q by p.
Hence, q*p= p3+ q3 -3qp
In conclusion p*q= q*p, the operation is commutative.

C. Associative Property: If a non – empty set S is closed under a binary

operation *, that is a*b €S. Then a binary operation is associative if
(𝑎 ∗ 𝑏) ∗ 𝑐 = 𝑎 ∗ (𝑏 ∗ 𝑐)
Also if the operation is represented with ∇ then the operation is associative if
(𝑎∇𝑏)∇𝑐 = 𝑎∇(𝑏∇𝑐)

Such that c also belongs to S.

Example: The operation Ө on the set Z of integers is defined by; a Ө b = 2a +3b -1.
Determine whether or not the operation is associative in Z.
Solution
Introduce another element c
Associative condition: (aӨb) Өc = a Ө (b Өc)
(aӨb)Өc = (2a+ 3b- 1) Ө C
= 2(2a +3b -1) + 3c -1
= 4a + 6b- 2+ 3c- 1
= 4a +6b+3c- 3.
Also, the RHS, a Ө (b Ө c) = a Ө (2b+3c- 1)
= 2a+ 3(2b +3c- 1) - 1
= 2a + 6b +9c -3 -1
a Ө (b Ө c) = 2a+ 6b+ 9c -4
Since, (a Ө b) Ө c ≠ a Ө (b Ө c), the operation is not associative in Z.

Evaluation
1. An operation* defined on the set R of real numbers is
1 2
x* y = 3x+ 2y- 1, x,y €R. Determine (a) 2*3 (b) -4* 5 (c) ∗ is the operation
2 3
closed.

D. Distributive Property: If a set is closed under two or more binary operations

(* Ө) for all a, b and c € S, such that:
a*(bӨ c) = (a*b )Ө( a*c - Left distributive
(BӨc) *a = (b*a) Ө(c*a) - Right distributive over the operation Ө

Example: Given the set R of real numbers under the operations * and Ө defined by:
a*b = a+ b- 3, aӨb= 5ab for all a, b € R. Does * distribute over Ө.
Solution
Let a, b,c € R
a* ( bӨc) = (a*b) Ө (a*c)
a* (bӨc) = a* (5ab)
= a+ 5ab -3.
(a*b) Ө (a*c) = (a+ b -3) Ө ( a+ c-3)
= 5(a +b-3)(a +c -3)
From the expansion, it’s obvious that, a* ( bӨc) ≠ (a*b) Ө (a*c) therefore
operation* is not distributive over Ө.

Evaluation:
1. A binary operation * is defined on the set R of real numbers by x*y= x +y + 3xy
for all x, yɛR.
determine whether or not * is:
(a) Commutative?
(b) Associative?
2. The operation  on the set R of real numbers is defined by a  b = a+b + ab for
abϵR.
2
Show that the operation  is commutative but not associative on R.
General Evaluation
i. The operation * on the set R of real numbers is defined by: x * y = 3x + 2y –
1, x, yϵR.
ii. Determine (i) 2 * 3 (ii) 1/3 * ½ (iii) -4*5
iii. The operation * on the set R, of real numbers is defined by; p*q = p 3 + q3 –
3pq; p,q ϵR. Is the operation * commutative in R?
iv. The operation * and  are defined on the set R of natural numbers by a*b =
ab and a  b = a/b for all a,bϵR (a) Does * distribute over  ? (b) Does 
distribute over *?

Weekend Assignment
1. Two binary operation * and Ө are defined as m * n = mn – n -1 and m Ө n = mn
+ n -2 for al real
number m n find the value of 3 Ө (4 * 5) (a) 60 (b) 57 (c) 54 (d) 42
2. If x * y = x + y –xy, find x, when (x*2) + (x*3) = 63 (a) 24 (b) 22 (c) -12 (d) -
21
3. A binary operation * is defined by a * b = ab. If a * 2 = 2 – a, find the possible
values of
i. 1, -1
ii. 1, 2
iii. 2, -2
iv. 1, -2
4. The binary operation * is defined on the set of integers p and q by p*q = pq + p
+ q. Find 2*(3*4)
(a) 59 (b) 19 (c) 67 (d) 38
5. A binary operation  on real numbers is defined by x  y = xy + x + y for any
two real numbers and y. The value of (-3/4)  6 is (a) 3/4 (b) -9/2 (c) 45/4 (d) -
3/4

Theory
𝑎+𝑏 1
1. The operation * is defined on the set R of real numbers by 𝑎 ∗ 𝑏 = _
2 5

𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎, 𝑏 €𝑅 .
Is the operation * commutative in R?.
2. The operation * is defined on the set R of real numbers by 𝑥 ∗ 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 +
𝑥𝑦
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑥, 𝑦 €𝑅
2

(a) is the operation * commutative? (b) is the operation * associative over the set
R?
BINARY OPERATIONS: IDENTITY AND INVERSE ELEMENTS
Identity element and Inverse element
CONTENT:
Identity Element:
Provided a non- empty set S which is closed under a binary operation * and if
there exists an element e € S such that a*e = e*a = a for all a € S, then e is called the
IDENTITY or NEUTRAL element. The neutral element (e) if it exist in the set S is
mostly unique.
Example 1: The operation * on the set R of real numbers is defined by a*b = 2a-1
for all a, b € R. Determine the identity element.
Solution:
Let e € R be the identity element in R under the operation *.
Therefore if e € R, then a*e= e*a = a
2𝑎 − 1
𝑎∗𝑏= +𝑏
2
2𝑎 − 1
𝑎∗𝑒 = +𝑒 =𝑒
2

2𝑎 − 1 + 2𝑒 = 2𝑎
2𝑒 = 2𝑎 − 2𝑎 + 1
𝑒 = ½.
Hence the identity element e in R under the operation * is ½.

Evaluation
Find the identity element of the binary operation a*b = a +b+ab
Inverse Element;
If x € S and an element x-1 € S such that x*x-1 = x-1*x= e where e is the identity
element then x-1 is the inverse of x in S.
Example: An operation * is defined on the set of real numbers by x*y = x + y -2xy.
If the identity element is 0, find the inverse of the element.
Solution;
𝑥 ∗ 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦
𝑥 ∗ 𝑥 −1 = 𝑥 −1 ∗ 𝑥 = 𝑒, 𝑒 = 0
𝑥 + 𝑥 −1 − (2 × 𝑥 × 𝑥 −1 ) = 0
𝑥 −1 − 2𝑥 × 𝑥 −1 = −𝑥
𝑥 −1 (1 − 2𝑥) = −𝑥
𝑥
𝑥 −1 = −
(1 − 2𝑥)
𝑥
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑥 −1 = −
(1 − 2𝑥)

Evaluation:

The operation ∆ on the set Q of rational numbers is defined by: x∆ y = 9xy for x,y
€Q
Find under the operation ∆
i. the identity element
ii. the inverse of the element a € Q
General Evaluation
1. An operation on the set of integers defined by a*b = a2 + b2 – 2a,
Find :
i. the identity element
ii. the inverse of the element a € Q
iii. -3*(2*4)

2. Solve the pair of equations simultaneously

(a) 2x + y = 3, 4x2 – y2 + 2x + 3y= 16
(b) 22x – 3y = 4, 33x + 5y – 18 = 0
Reading Assignment: Read Binary Operation, Further Mathematics Project II, page
16 – 22
Weekend Assignment
1. Find the identity element e under this operation if the binary operation* is
defined by c * d = 2cd+ 4c+ 3d for any real number.
A. -3 B. -2C+3 C. X-3
2C+3 2C
2. An operation is defined by x*y = Logyx , evaluate 10* 0.0001
A. 4 B. -4 C. 3
3. The binary operation * is defined by x*y= xy- 2x -15, solve for x if x*2= 0
A.x= -3 or -5 B. x= -3 or 5 C. x = 3 or 5
4. A binary operation * is defined on the set R of real numbers by
m*n = m + n2 for all m, n € R. If k*3 = 7*4, find the value of k
A. 8 B.28/3 C.14
5 .Find the inverse function a-1 in the binary operation ∆ such that for all a,b €
R
a ∆ b = ab/ 5
A. 25/a B.-25/a C. a/5

Theory
1. A binary operation * is defined on the set R of real numbers by
x*y = x2 + y2+ xy for all x, y € R. Calculate (a) ( 2*3)* 4
(b) Solve the equation 6*x = 27