Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / Prelims / Mathematics I / 5 / b / i

Suppose $y\ast y=y$. Choose $z$ with $y\ast z=e$, using the given right inverse element property. Multiply the idempotent relation on the right by $z$. By associativity and the given right identity element property,Thus the only idempotent element of a semigroup is $e$. This argument uses no cancellation and does not assume a left identity element.