BINARY

OPERATION
Lesson Objectives:
1. Define binary operation.

2. Determine whether a given example is a binary

operation.

3. Perform binary operation.

What is Binary Operation?

• Let G be a non-empty set. An operation * on G is

said to be a binary operation on G if for every pair
of elements, (a, b) in G that is (a,b) ∈ G; the
product a * b ∈ G.

• Note: For each (a,b) ∈ G, we assign an element a *

b of G
What is Binary Operation?
• A binary operation on a set is a
calculation that combines two elements
of the set (called operands) to produce
another element of the set.
• The most familiar binary operations are
ordinary addition, subtraction, and
multiplication of integers.
• The most familiar binary operations are ordinary addition,
subtraction, and multiplication of integers.
Examples:
G ∈ ℤ define a * b = a + b (addition on ℤ)
Let a ∈ Z and b ∈ Z

If we add a and b, then the sum of a + b ∈ Z.

Hence a * b = a + b is a binary operation.
• The most familiar binary operations are ordinary addition,
subtraction, and multiplication of integers.
Examples:
G ∈ Z define a * b = a - b (subtraction on ℤ)
Let a ∈ Z and b ∈ Z

If we subtract a and b, then the difference of a - b ∈ Z.

Hence a * b = a - b is a binary operation.
• The most familiar binary operations are ordinary addition,
subtraction, and multiplication of integers.
Examples:
G ∈ ℤ define a * b = ab (usual multiplication on
Z)Let a ∈ Z and b ∈ Z

If we multiply a and b, then the product of ab ∈ Z

Hence a * b = ab is a binary operation.
• Division of integers is not a binary operation on the
integers because an integer divided by an integer need not
be an integer.

Examples:

G ∈ ℤ define a * b = (division on Z)
Let a ∈ Z and b ∈ Z

If we divide a and b, then the quotient of ∉ Z.

Hence a * b = is not a binary operation.
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Examples:
Tell whether the following is a binary operation or not. Explain by
citing example or counter example.