PlanetMath (more info)
 Math for the people, by the people. Sponsor PlanetMath
Encyclopedia | Requests | Forums | Docs | Wiki | Random | RSS  
Login
create new user
name:
pass:
forget your password?
Main Menu
Revision difference : direct products of groups
Version 7 Version 6
\PMlinkescapeword{finite support} \PMlinkescapeword{finite support}
\PMlinkescapeword{index} \PMlinkescapeword{index}
\PMlinkescapeword{pointwise} \PMlinkescapeword{pointwise}
Let $I$ be an index set and for each $i\in I$ let $G_i$ be a group. Let $I$ be an index set and for each $i\in I$ let $G_i$ be a group.
The (\emph{unrestricted}) \emph{direct product} $\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ The (\emph{unrestricted}) \emph{direct product} $\prod_{i\in I}G_i$
is the \PMlinkname{Cartesian product}{GeneralizedCartesianProduct} is the \PMlinkname{Cartesian product}{GeneralizedCartesianProduct}
$\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ with multiplication defined pointwise, $\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ with multiplication defined pointwise,
that is, for all $f,g\in\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ and all $i\in I$ that is, for all $f,g\in\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ and all $i\in I$
we have $(fg)(i)=f(i)g(i)$. we have $(fg)(i)=f(i)g(i)$.
It is easily verified that this multiplication makes the \PMlinkescapetext{Cartesian product} into a group. It is easily verified that this multiplication makes the \PMlinkescapetext{Cartesian product} into a group.
This construction is in fact the \PMlinkname{categorical direct product}{CategoricalDirectProduct} in the category of groups. This construction is in fact the \PMlinkname{categorical direct product}{CategoricalDirectProduct} in the category of groups.
The \emph{restricted direct product} $\bigoplus_{i\in I}G_i$ is the subgroup of $\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ consisting of all those those elements with finite support. That is, The \emph{restricted direct product} $\bigoplus_{i\in I}G_i$ is the subgroup of $\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ consisting of all those those elements with finite support. That is,
\[\bigoplus_{i\in I}G_i=\biggl\{f\in\prod_{i\in I}G_i\biggm| f(i)=1\hbox{ for all but finitely many }i\in I\biggr\}.\] \[\bigoplus_{i\in I}G_i=\biggl\{f\in\prod_{i\in I}G_i\biggm| f(i)=1\hbox{ for all but finitely many }i\in I\biggr\}.\]
The restricted direct product is also called the \emph{direct sum}, although this usage is often reserved for the case where all the $G_i$ are abelian (see \PMlinkname{direct sum of modules}{DirectSum} and \PMlinkname{categorical direct sum}{CategoricalDirectSum}). The restricted direct product is also called the \emph{direct sum}, although this usage often reserved for the case where all the $G_i$ are abelian (see \PMlinkname{direct sum of modules}{DirectSum} and \PMlinkname{categorical direct sum}{CategoricalDirectSum}).
Confusingly, some authors refer to the restricted direct product as simply the direct product. Confusingly, some authors refer to the restricted direct product as simply the direct product.
Note that if $I$ is finite then the direct product and the restricted direct product are the same. Note that if $I$ is finite then the direct product and the restricted direct product are the same.