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Binary Operations

A binary operation is a function that combines two elements from a set S to produce another element in the same set. Key properties include closure, associativity, commutativity, distributivity, identity, and inverse elements. Examples illustrate how operations like addition and multiplication qualify as binary operations, while subtraction does not.

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Binary Operations

A binary operation is a function that combines two elements from a set S to produce another element in the same set. Key properties include closure, associativity, commutativity, distributivity, identity, and inverse elements. Examples illustrate how operations like addition and multiplication qualify as binary operations, while subtraction does not.

Uploaded by

Genevive Saludo Labeta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Villalon, Joane Paula V.

Date:
03/26/25

Course&Year: BSEd-MATH 3

Binary Operation
A binary operation can be understood as a function f (x, y) that applies to two
elements of the same set S, such that the result will also be an element of the
set S. Examples of binary operations are the addition of integers,
multiplication of whole numbers, etc. A binary operation is a rule that is
applied on two elements of a set and the resultant element also belongs to the
same set.

What is Binary Operation?

A binary operation on a set is a mapping of elements of the cartesian product


set S × S to S, i.e., *: S × S → S such that a * b ∈ S, for all a, b ∈ S. The two
elements of the input and the output belong to the same set S. The binary
operation is denoted using different symbols such as addition is denoted by +,
multiplication is denoted by ×, etc.

Binary Operation Definition

The definition of binary operations states that "If S is a non-empty set, and * is
said to be a binary operation on S, then it should satisfy the condition which
says, if a ∈ S and b ∈ S, then a * b ∈ S, ∀ a, b ∈ S. In other words, * is a rule
for any two elements in the set S where both the input values and the output
value should belong to the set S. It is known as binary operations as it is
performed on two elements of a set and binary means two.
Properties of Binary Operation

Let us learn about the properties of binary operation in this section. The binary
operation properties are given below:
 Closure Property: A binary operation * on a non-empty set P has
closure property, if a ∈ P, b ∈ P ⇒ a * b ∈ P. For example, addition
is a binary operation that is closed on natural numbers, integers,
and rational numbers.
 Associative Property: The associative property of binary operations
holds if, for a non-empty set S, we can write (a * b) *c = a*(b * c),
where {a, b, c} ∈ S. Suppose Z be the set of integers and
multiplication be the binary operation. Let, a = -3, b = 5, and c = -
16. We can write (a × b) × c = 240 = a × (b × c). Please note that
all binary operations are not associative, for example, subtraction
denoted by '-'.
 Commutative Property: A binary operation * on a non-empty set S
is commutative, if a * b = b * a, for all (a, b) ∈ S. Suppose addition be
the binary operation and N be the set of natural numbers. Let, a = 4
and b = 5, a + b = 9 = b + a.
 Distributive Property: Let * and # be two binary operations defined
on a non-empty set S. The binary operations are distributive if, a* (b
# c) = (a * b) # (a * c), for all {a, b, c} ∈ S. Suppose * is the
multiplication operation and # is the subtraction operation defined
on Z (set of integers). Let, a = 3, b = 4, and c = 7. Then, a*(b # c)
= a × (b − c) = 3 × (4 − 7) = -9. And, (a * b) # (a * c) = (a × b) −
(a × c) = (3 × 4) − (3 × 7) = 12 − 21 = -9. Therefore, a* (b # c) =
(a * b) # (a * c), for all {a, b, c} ∈ Z.
 Identity Element: A non-empty set P with a binary operation * is said
to have an identity e ∈ P, if e*a = a*e= a, ∀ a ∈ P. Here, e is the
identity element.
 Inverse Property: A non-empty set P with a binary operation * is said
to have an inverse element, if a * b = b * a = e, ∀ {a, b, e}∈P.
Here, a is the inverse of b, b is the inverse of a and e is the identity
element.

Binary Operation Table

A binary operation table is a visual representation of a set where all the


elements are shown along with the performed binary operation. An example of
a binary operation table is shown below where ^ is the binary operation
performed on a set S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}. Here, ^: S×S→S. Let a be the row
elements and b be the column elements, and the operation is defined as a ^ b.
From the given binary operation table, we can clearly see that 1 ^ 1 = 1, 1 ^ 2
= 1, 2 ^ 2 = 2, 3 ^ 4 = 1, and so on. It satisfies the closure property of binary
operations as all the output values belong to the given set. Let us see if it
satisfies the other properties of binary operations as well or not.
Associative property: Let a=1, b=2, and c=3. Now, a ^ (b ^ c) = 1 ^ (2 ^ 3) =
1 ^ 1 = 1. Let us check the output value of (a ^ b) ^ c.
(1 ^ 2) ^ 3
= 1 ^ 3 (as 1 ^ 2 = 1)
=1
Therefore, 1 ^ (2 ^ 3) = (1 ^ 2) ^ 3. It satisfies the associative property. You
can check it by taking any three values from the given set.
Commutative property: To satisfy the commutative law, the given binary
operation table should satisfy the condition that says a ^ b = b ^ a, for all a,
b∈S. Let us take a = 3 and b = 4. Now, 3 ^ 4 = 1, and 4 ^ 3 = 1. Therefore,
commutative property holds true. The other examples are 1 ^ 2 = 2 ^ 1 = 1, 4 ^
5 = 5 ^ 4 = 1, and so on.
Identity element: To find the identity element of the given operation, we have
to find an element e which satisfies the equation a ^ e = a, for all a∈S. Now, in
the given table, if we look carefully, we find that 1 ^ 1 = 1, 2 ^ 1 = 1, 3 ^ 1= 1, 4
^ 1= 1, and 5 ^ 1 = 1. Therefore, 1 is the identity element.
Inverse property: To find the inverse elements, we have to pair two elements
such that a ^ b = b ^ a = e. We already know that e is 1, so the condition is a ^
b = b ^ a = 1. From the table, we find that 1 ^ 2 = 2 ^ 1 = 1. And similarly, 1 ^ 3
= 3 ^ 1 = 1. So, 1 is the inverse of every element in the set.
Important Notes on Binary Operation
 Not all binary operations hold associative and commutative
properties.
 A binary operation can be understood as a function f (x, y) that
applies to two elements of the same set S, such that the result will
also be an element of the set S.

EXAMPLES:

 Example 1: A binary operation table of set S = {a, b, c, d} is given


below. Show how does it satisfy the commutative property. Also, find
the identity element.
Solution: Given, set S = {a, b, c, d}. In the above table, let us pair up
any two elements and see if it satisfies the commutative property of
binary operations. Here, we have, a # b = b and b # a = b, b # c = d and
c # b = d. So, the given table satisfies the commutative property as
x#y=y#x, for all x, y ∈ S.
Now, to find the identity element, we have to find an element e∈S, such
that a # e = a = e # a, for all a∈S. From the table, we have, a # b = b = b
# a. Also, c # a = c = a # c and a # d = d = d # a. Therefore, a is the
identity element of the given binary operation.

 Example 2: Show that addition is a binary operation on natural


numbers.
Solution: The set of natural number can be expressed as N = {1, 2, 3,
4, 5, .....}. Every counting number from 1 to infinity comes in the set of
natural numbers. So, if we pick up any two elements of this set
randomly, let's say 2 and 45, and add those, we get a natural number
only. Here, 2 + 45 = 47∈N. Therefore, addition is a binary operation on
natural numbers.

 Example 3: Show that subtraction is not a binary operation on whole


numbers.
Solution: The set of whole numbers can be expressed as W = {0, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, .....}. Every counting number from 0 to infinity comes in the set of
whole numbers. So, if we pick up any two elements of this set randomly,
let's say 12 and 45, and subtract those, we may or may not get a whole
number. Here, 12 - 45 = -33 ∉ W. Therefore, subtraction is not a binary
operation on whole numbers.

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