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 ∀ 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 ∀ a ∈ N
⇒ a * 1 = a = 1 * a ∀ 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 *.
Let \( A = \{0,1,2,\ldots,9\} \). Let \( R \) be a relation on \( A \) defined by \((x,y) \in R\) if and only if \( |x - y| \) is a multiple of \(3\). Given below are two statements:
Statement I: \( n(R) = 36 \).
Statement II: \( R \) is an equivalence relation.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.

A ladder of fixed length \( h \) is to be placed along the wall such that it is free to move along the height of the wall.
Based upon the above information, answer the following questions:
(iii) (b) If the foot of the ladder, whose length is 5 m, is being pulled towards the wall such that the rate of decrease of distance \( y \) is \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \), then at what rate is the height on the wall \( x \) increasing when the foot of the ladder is 3 m away from the wall?
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.
Read More: Truth Table
There are four main types of binary operations which are: