Question

If * is a binary operation defined by a*b = minimum of {a,b} or a min b, find the value of 10*8

Answer 1

what is smaller, 10 or 8?

Answer 2

\(10*8=\min\{10,8\}=?\) which is the minimum? ;-)

Answer 3

\[a*b=\min(a,b)\]
\[10*8=\min(10,8)\]
What's the smaller number?

Answer 4

Haha the answers to this question.

Answer 5

Hehe the responses to this query.

Answer 6

Erm. 8

Answer 7

With questions like this don't just panic as soon as you see the word 'binary' or operation' , just read the question and understand it, 9 times out of 10 it's easy as..

Answer 8

multiplication?

Answer 9

multiplication is one example of a binary operation , but not the only one
"binary" because it takes "2" numbers to multiply, and combines them in to one number
\[3\times 4=12\]
addition is also "binary"
\[3+4=7\] two number become one

Answer 10

in this case the "binary" operation is not one you are used to
it says "take two numbers, compare them, pick the smallest"

Answer 11

so it is not multiplication or addition, but something else. if we call the operation \(\circ\) then
for example \(3\circ 5=3\) because \(3\) is the smaller of the two

Answer 12

Ohh..

Answer 13

So the answer is 8?

Answer 14

yes

Answer 15

the answer to the question is very easy
the hard part is understanding what it is is asking
that is why @sarahusher wrote her answer above,
understanding the question is the key to solving it

Answer 16

Ohh....okay! Thank chuu!