$(a, b) * (c, d) = (ac, bc + d),$ on the set $\{(x, y) \in \mathbb R \times \mathbb R: x \neq 0\}$.
$(a, b) * (c, d) = (ac, bc + d) = (ca, da + b) = (c, d) * (a, b).$ Elements here commute about $*$.
$((a, b) * (c, d)) * (e, f) = ((ac, bc + d)) * (e, f) = (ace, bce + de + f) \neq (eac, fac + bc + d) = (e, f) * ((a, b) * (c, d)).$ Associativity fails.
$(a, b) * (e_1, e_2) = (ae_1, be_1 + e_2) = (a, b),$ so $(e_1, e_2) = (1, 0).$ Thus, $(e_1, e_2) * (a, b) = (a, b).$ Identity exists.
$(a, b) * (a', b') = (aa', ba' + b') = (e_1, e_2),$ $(a', b') = (\frac {1}{a}, - \frac {b}{a})$. Thus, $(a', b') * (a, b) = (1, 0).$ Inverse exists.
This set is not a group.
Same operation as above, but on the set $\mathbb R \times \mathbb R.$
In this case inverse will fail since we can't divide by $0.$
$(a, b) * (c, d) = (ac - bd, ad + bc),$ on the set $\mathbb R \times \mathbb R$ with the origin deleted.
$(a, b) * (c, d) = (ac - bd, ad + bc) = (ca - db, cb + da) = (c, d) * (a, b)$. Commutativity holds.
$((a, b) * (c, d)) * (e, f) = ((ac - bd, ad + bc)) * (e, f) = (ace - bde - (adf + bcf), acf - bdf + ade + bce = eac - ebd - (fad + fbc), ead + ebc + (fac - fbd) = (e, f) * ((a, b) * (c, d)).$ Associativity holds.
$(a, b) * (e_1, e_2) = (ae_1 - be_2, ae_2 + be_1) = (a, b).$ So, $ e_1 = \frac {a + be_2}{a}, e_2 = \frac {b - be_1}{a}.$
$(e_1, e_2) * (a, b)$ produces a terrible mess that doesn't equal $(a, b).$ No identity and no inverse.
Consider the operation of the preceding problem on the set $ \mathbb R^2$. Is this a group? Explain.
Assuming the preceding problem is done correctly, this one won't be a group either because $2$ axioms don't hold.
Need my work checked.