Symbol representing operation

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 41
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 1:10 pm
Thanked: 1 times

Symbol representing operation

by Rudy414 » Mon May 20, 2013 1:19 pm
Image

Thanks!

GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pm
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
Followed by:119 members
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Mon May 20, 2013 1:32 pm
I'll use # for the symbol given in the problem.

(I)

a # b = a + b - ab
b # a = b + a - ba

a + b - ab = b + a - ba

So a#b = b#a

True!

(II)

a # 0 = a + 0 - a*0 = a

True!

(III)

(a # b) # c = (a + b - ab) # c = a + b - ab + c - c(a+b-ab) = a + b + c - ab - ac - bc + abc

a # (b # c) = a # (b + c - bc) = a + b + c - bc - a(b+c-bc) = a + b + c - bc - ab - ac + abc

a + b + c - ab - ac - bc + abc = a + b + c - bc - ab - ac + abc

So (a#b)#c = a#(b#c)

True!