EXAMPLE 4 Show that the operation *on Q - (4, defined by

a*b= a+ b- ab for all a, beQ-(1

satisfies (i) theclosure property, (ii) the associative law,
(iii) the commutative law.
(iv) What is the identity element?
(v) For each a eQ- (1, find the inverse of a.
SOLUTION (i) Closure Property
Let a eQ-{ andbe Q-(1}.
We know that QQis closed for addition, subtraction and
multiplication.
. a + b- ab e Q.
But, a * b=1 a+b-ab =1
’’ a(1- b) =(1- b) ’ a=1,
which is a contradiction since 1 Q-{1.
. a*b1.
Thus, ae Q-{, be Q- {1) ’ a *be Q-{1.
*isa binary operation on -1.
(iü)Associative Law
Let a, b, ceQ-{. Then,
(a* b) *c= (a+b-ab) * c
=(a+ b- ab) + c- (a + b- ab)c
abc.
=(4+ b + c) -(ab + bc+ ac) +
And, a *(b*c) = a *(b+c-bc) bc)
=a+ (b + c- bc) - a(b+ C-
+ abc.
=(a+ b+ c) -(ab+ bc + ac)