JAMB - Mathematics (2001 - No. 11)
An operation * is defined on the set of real numbers by a*b = a + b + 1. If the identity elements is -1, find the inverse of the element 2 under *.
4
zero
-2
-4
Explicació
By definition a*b = a + b + 1.
Let the inverse of the element 2 be x,
Therefore 2*x = -1
i.e. 2 + x + 1 = -1
3 + x = -1
x = -1 - 3
x = -4
Let the inverse of the element 2 be x,
Therefore 2*x = -1
i.e. 2 + x + 1 = -1
3 + x = -1
x = -1 - 3
x = -4