[Math] Findout if $\min(x,y)$ and $\max(x,y)$ are semigroup, monoid or group

abstract-algebragroup-theorymonoidsemigroups

I need to find out whether $A \oplus B := \max(A,B)$ or $A \ominus B := \min(A,B)$ form a semigroup, monoid or group for $\oplus : \mathbb{N} \times \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$ and $\ominus : \mathbb{N} \times \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$

$(\mathbb{N},\oplus)$

Semigroup because $A \oplus (B \oplus C) = (A \oplus B) \oplus C$

Monoid because of the identity $e = 0$

$(\mathbb{N},\ominus)$

Semigroup because $A \ominus (B \ominus C) = (A \ominus B) \ominus C$

Not a monoid because if $e < a$ then $e \ominus a \neq a$

But I am not quite sure if they are a group too. I can not come up with an inverse. Is that correct?

Best Answer

For $\oplus$: It's not enough to show that $A\oplus A = A$. The definition of the identity is:

An identity is such an element $e$ that for all $a\in\mathbb B$, it holds that $ae=ea=a$.

This means it is not enough to find an element for each $a$, you must fint one element for all $a$. Your $0$ is a good candidate, can you show that $a\oplus 0 =0\oplus a= a$ for all $a\in\mathbb N$?

In the same way, you didn't yet show that $\ominus$ forms a monoid. You must find some element $e$ for which $e\ominus a = a$. If you cannot find it, you have to prove it does not exist.

Related Question