## The center of a direct product is the direct product of the centers

Show that the center of a direct product is the direct product of the centers: $Z(G_1 \times \cdots \times G_k) = Z(G_1) \times \cdots Z(G_k)$. Deduce that a direct product of groups is abelian if and only if each of the factors is abelian.

We proceed by induction on $k$.

For the base case $k=2$, let $G$ and $H$ be groups. $(\subseteq)$ Let $(g,h) \in Z(G \times H)$. Then for all $(a,b) \in G \times H$, $(ga, hb) = (g,h)(a,b) = (a,b)(g,h) = (ag,bh)$. Thus $ag = ga$ and $bh = hb$ for all $a \in G$ and $b \in H$; hence $g \in Z(G)$ and $h \in Z(H)$. Thus $(g,h) \in Z(G) \times Z(H)$. $(\supseteq)$ Let $(g,h) \in Z(G) \times Z(H)$. Now for all $a \in G$ and $h \in H$, $(g,h)(a,b) = (ga,hb)$ $= (ag,bh)$ $= (a,b)(g,h)$. Thus $(g,h) \in Z(G \times H)$. Thus $Z(G \times H) = Z(G) \times Z(H)$.

Now suppose the conclusion holds for any product of $k$ groups for some $k \geq 2$. Then $Z(\times_{i=1}^{k+1} G_i) = Z(\times_{i=1}^k G_i \times G_{k+1})$ $= Z(\times_{i=1}^k G_i) \times Z(G_{k+1})$ $= \times_{i=1}^k Z(G_i) \times Z(G_{k+1})$ $= \times_{i=1}^{k+1} G_i$. By induction, the result holds for any finite direct product.

Now let $G = \times_{i=1}^k G_i$ be a finite direct product of groups.

If each factor $G_i$ is abelian, then $Z(G) = Z(\times_{i=1}^k G_i)$ $= \times_{i=1}^k Z(G_i)$ $= \times_{i=1}^k G_i$ $= G$; hence $G$ is abelian.

If $G$ is abelian, then $\times_{i=1}^k Z(G_i) = Z(\times_{i=1}^k G_i)$ $= Z(G)$ $= G$ $= \times_{i=1}^k G_i$. If we let $\pi_i$ denote the $i$th coordinate projection, we have $G_i = \pi_i[G] = Z(G_i)$. Hence $G_i$ is abelian for each $i$.