In mathematics, one can often define a direct product of objects already known, giving a new one.
For instance, in group theory (but similar constructions hold for rings and other algebraic structures) one defines the direct product of two groups G and H, denoted by G×H, as follows:
- as set of the elements of the new group, take the cartesian product of the sets of elements of G and H, that is {(g, h): g in G, h in H};
- on these elements put an operation defined elementwise:
(g, h) * (g' , h' ) = (g*g' , h*h' ) (here we denote, as usual, with "*" the operations of G and of H, as well as the new one we are defining).
This construction gives a new group. It has a normal subgroup isomorphic to G (given by the elements of the form (g, 1)), and one isomorphic to H (comprising the elements (1, h)).
As an example, take as G and H two copies of the unique (up to isomorphisms) group of order 2, C2: say {1, a} and {1, b}. Then C2×C2 = {(1,1), (1,b), (a,1), (a,b)}, with the operation element by element. For instance, (1,b)*(a,1) = (1*a, b*1) = (a,b), and (1,b)*(1,b) = (1,b2) = (1,1).