Right option is (a) * is associative
Explanation: ‘∗’ can be defined by the formula a∗b = a for any a and b in S. Hence, (a ∗ b)∗c = a∗c = a and a ∗(b ∗ c)= a ∗ b = a. Therefore, ”∗” is associative. Hence (S, ∗) is a semigroup. On the contrary, * is not associative since, for example, (b•c)•c = a•c = c but b•(c•c) = b•a = b Thus (S,•) is not a semigroup.