Given a non-empty set X, consider the binary operation * : P(X) x P(X) → P(X) given by A * B = A ∩ B ∀ A, B in P(X), where P(X) is the power set of X. Show that X is the identity element for this operation and X is the only invertible element in P(X) with respect to the operation *.
Let E ∈ P(X) be an identity element, then
A * E = E * A = A for all A ∈ P(X)
⇒ A ∩ E = E ∩ A = A for all A ∈ P(X)
⇒ X ∩ E = X as X ∈ P(X)
⇒ X ⊂ E
Also E ⊂ X as E ∈ P(X)
∴ E = X
∴ X is the identity element.
Let A ∈ P(X) be invertible, then there exists B ∈ P(X) such that A * B = B * A = X, the identity element.
⇒ A ∩ B =B ∩ A = X
⇒ X ⊂ A and also X ⊂ B
Also. A, B C X as A, B ∈ P(X)
∴ A = X = B
∴ X is the only invertible element and X–1 = B = X.