# The cancellation property for finite abelian groups

I need some hints to prove that:

Let $A,B,C$ are finite abelian groups such that $A\oplus B\cong A\oplus C$. Prove that $B\cong C$.

I know that every finite abelian group can be written as a finite summation $\oplus\mathbb Z_{p^k}$ and not sure about omitting the same factor.However, I have seen many times that this cancellation from both sides is done in Abelian groups. Thanks for the ideas.

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Both the invariant factor and primary decompositions of abelian groups are unique. Does that help? –  anon Nov 2 '12 at 21:24
Can we just choose a side and mod out $A$? If so, this will work for nonabelian groups in addition to abelian groups. –  peoplepower Nov 2 '12 at 21:49
@anon: Is it useful to show that the number of elements of order $n$ in $B$ and $C$ are the same? –  B. S. Nov 3 '12 at 2:20
What about going back to the definition of isomorphism? If we know that $\exists \phi :A\oplus B\rightarrow A\oplus C$ such that $\phi(ab)=\phi(a)\phi(b)$, $\forall a,b\in A\oplus B$, can we either use that to construct an isomorphism from $B$ to $C$ or show that $\phi$ also is already an isomorphism from $B$ to $C$? –  Todd Wilcox Nov 3 '12 at 16:44
Not necessarily. I don't have a firm definition in my mind of what "restricted" or "restricted function" means. I'm also worried that I used what we are trying to prove in my outline for the proof. Specifically, that an isomorphism between two direct products can be split into isomorphisms between corresponding constituents of those products. I'd love for someone more experienced than I to weigh in on my outline. Maybe I should write it up as an answer and see if it gets downvoted. –  Todd Wilcox Nov 3 '12 at 17:45

Let each $p_i$, $q_i \in \mathbb{N}$ be a power of a prime, not neccesarily distinct. $A$, $B$, $C$ are finite and Abelian which means that $A\cong \mathbb{Z}_{p_1}\oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_2}\oplus\cdots \oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_k}$, $B\cong \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+1}}\oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+2}}\oplus\cdots \oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+n}}$, and $C\cong \mathbb{Z}_{q_{1}}\oplus \mathbb{Z}_{q_{2}}\oplus\cdots \oplus \mathbb{Z}_{q_{m}}$ for some $k$, $n$, $m\in \mathbb{N}$. So, $$A\oplus B\cong \mathbb{Z}_{p_1}\oplus\cdots\oplus\mathbb{Z}_{p_k}\oplus\mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+1}}\oplus \cdots\oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+n}}$$ $$\mathbb{Z}_{p_1}\oplus\cdots\oplus\mathbb{Z}_{p_k}\oplus\mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+1}}\oplus \cdots\oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+n}}\cong A\oplus C$$ $$\mathbb{Z}_{p_1}\oplus\cdots\oplus\mathbb{Z}_{p_k} \oplus\mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+1}}\oplus \cdots\oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+n}}\cong \mathbb{Z}_{p_1}\oplus\cdots\oplus\mathbb{Z}_{p_k} \oplus \mathbb{Z}_{q_{1}}\oplus \cdots \oplus \mathbb{Z}_{q_{m}}$$ Since the number of terms and orders of each of the terms in the products on each side of the isomorphism are unique, it must be true that $n=m$ and it is possible to re-arrange the terms on the right so that $q_j=p_{k+j}$ for $1\leq j\leq n$, $j\in \mathbb{N}$. That means, $$C\cong \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+1}}\oplus \cdots\oplus \mathbb{Z}_{p_{k+n}}\cong B$$ and we are done.