For each binary operation * defined below, determine whether * is commutative or associative

For each binary operation * defined below, determine whether * is commutative or associative.
(i) On Z, define a * b = a − b
(ii) On Q, define a * b = ab + 1
(iii) On Q, define a * b= ab/2
(iv) On Z⁺, define a * b = 2^ab
(v) On Z⁺, define a * b = a^b
(vi) On R − {−1}, a * b = a/(b+1)define

Answer
(i) On Z, * is defined by a * b = a − b.
It can be observed that 1 * 2 = 1 − 2 = 1 and 2 * 1 = 2 − 1 = 1.
∴1 * 2 ≠ 2 * 1; where 1, 2 ∈ Z
Hence, the operation * is not commutative.
Also we have:
(1 * 2) * 3 = (1 − 2) * 3 = −1 * 3 = −1 − 3 = −4 1 * (2 * 3) = 1 * (2 − 3) = 1 * −1 = 1 − (−1) = 2
∴(1 * 2) * 3 ≠ 1 * (2 * 3) ; where 1, 2, 3 ∈ Z
Hence, the operation * is not associative.
(ii) On Q, * is defined by a * b = ab + 1. It is known that:
ab = ba a, b ∈Q
⇒ ab + 1 = ba + 1 a, b ∈Q
⇒ a * b = a * b a, b ∈Q
Therefore, the operation * is commutative.
It can be observed that:
(1 * 2) * 3 = (1 × 2 + 1) * 3 = 3 * 3 = 3 × 3 + 1 = 10 1 * (2 * 3) = 1 * (2 × 3 + 1) = 1 * 7 = 1 × 7 + 1 =8
∴(1 * 2) * 3 ≠ 1 * (2 * 3) ; where 1, 2, 3 ∈ Q
Therefore, the operation * is not associative.