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Revision difference : direct products of groups
Version 10 Version 9
\PMlinkescapeword{finite support} \PMlinkescapeword{finite support}
\PMlinkescapeword{index} \PMlinkescapeword{index}
\PMlinkescapeword{pointwise} \PMlinkescapeword{pointwise}
\PMlinkescapephrase{Cartesian product} \PMlinkescapephrase{Cartesian product}
Let $(G_i)_{i\in I}$ be a family of groups. Let $(G_i)_{i\in I}$ be a family of groups.
The \emph{unrestricted direct product} (or \emph{Cartesian product}) $\prod_{i\in I}G_i$ The \emph{unrestricted direct product} (or \emph{Cartesian 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 It is easily verified that this multiplication
makes the Cartesian product into a group. makes the 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 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 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 usually 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 is usually 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 unqualified term \emph{direct product} can refer either to the unrestricted direct product or to the restricted direct product, depending on the author. The unqualified term \emph{direct product} can refer either to the unrestricted direct product or to the restricted direct product, depending on the author.
Note that if $I$ is finite then the unrestricted direct product and the restricted direct product are in fact the same. Note that if $I$ is finite then the unrestricted direct product and the restricted direct product are in fact the same.