Problem Set 3

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LEVEL 1
1. For each of the following multiplication tables defined on the set 𝑆 = {𝑎, 𝑏}, determine if each
of the following is true or false:

(i) ⋆ defines a binary operation on 𝑆.

(ii) ⋆ is commutative in 𝑆.

(iii) 𝑎 is an identity with respect to ⋆.

(iv) 𝑏 is an identity with respect to ⋆.

I II III IV
) ⋆ 𝑎 𝑏 ⋆ 𝑎 𝑏 ⋆ 𝑎 𝑏 ⋆ 𝑎 𝑏
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
𝑏 𝑎 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 𝑎 𝑏 𝑏 𝑎 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏

2. Show that there are exactly two monoids on the set 𝑆 = {𝑒, 𝑎}, where 𝑒 is the identity. Which of
these monoids are groups? Which of these monoids are commutative?

LEVEL 2
3. Let 𝐺 = {𝑒, 𝑎, 𝑏} and let (𝐺,⋆) be a group with identity element 𝑒. Draw a multiplication table
for (𝐺,⋆).

4. Prove that in any monoid (𝑀,⋆), the identity element is unique.

LEVEL 3
5. Assume that a group (𝐺,⋆) of order 4 exists with 𝐺 = {𝑒, 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐}, where 𝑒 is the identity,
𝑎2 = 𝑏 and 𝑏 2 = 𝑒. Construct the table for the operation of such a group.

6. Prove that in any group (𝐺,⋆), each element has a unique inverse.
LEVEL 4
7. Let (𝐺,⋆) be a group with 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ 𝐺, and let 𝑎−1 and 𝑏 −1 be the inverses of 𝑎 and 𝑏, respectively.
Prove
(i) (𝑎 ⋆ 𝑏)−1 = 𝑏 −1 ⋆ 𝑎−1.
(ii) the inverse of 𝑎−1 is 𝑎.

8. Let (𝐺,⋆) be a group such that 𝑎2 = 𝑒 for all 𝑎  𝐺. Prove that (𝐺,⋆) is commutative.

9. Prove that (ℚ∗ , ⋅) is a commutative group.

LEVEL 5
10. Prove that there are exactly two groups of order 4, up to renaming the elements.

11. Show that (ℚ, +) is a commutative group.

12. Let 𝑆 = {𝑎, 𝑏}, where 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏. How many binary operations are there on 𝑆? How many semigroups
are there of the form (𝑆,⋆), up to renaming the elements?