Definition 1.1. The ordered pair (S,*) is a semi-group iff S is a set and * is an associative binary operation (multiplication) on S. Notation. A semigroup (S,*) will ordinarily be referred to by the set S, with the multiplication understood. In other words, if (a,b)e SX , then *[(a,b)] = a*b = ab. The proof of the following proposition is found on p. 4 of Introduction to Semigroups, by Mario Petrich. Proposition 1.2. Every semigroup S satisfies the general associative law.