Let * be the binary operation on N given by a * b = L.C.M. of a and b. Find

(i) 5 * 7, 20 * 16 (ii) Is * commutative?

(iii) Is * associative? (iv) Find the identity of * in N

(v) Which elements of N are invertible for the operation *?

The binary operation * on N is defined as a * b = L.C.M. of a and b.

(i) 5 * 7 = L.C.M. of 5 and 7 = 35

20 * 16 = L.C.M of 20 and 16 = 80

(ii) It is known that:

L.C.M of a and b = L.C.M of b and a &mnForE; a, b ∈ N.

∴a * b = b * a

Thus, the operation * is commutative.

(iii) For a, b, c ∈ N, we have:

(a * b) * c = (L.C.M of a and b) * c = LCM of a, b, and c

a * (b * c) = a * (LCM of b and c) = L.C.M of a, b, and c

∴(a * b) * c = a * (b * c)

Thus, the operation * is associative.

(iv) It is known that:

L.C.M. of a and 1 = a = L.C.M. 1 and a &mnForE; a ∈ N

⇒ a * 1 = a = 1 * a &mnForE; a ∈ N

Thus, 1 is the identity of * in N.

(v) An element a in N is invertible with respect to the operation * if there exists an element b in N, such that a * b = e = b * a.

Here, e = 1

This means that:

L.C.M of a and b = 1 = L.C.M of b and a

This case is possible only when a and b are equal to 1.

Thus, 1 is the only invertible element of N with respect to the operation *.