 Center quotient of the real Heisenberg group

In coordinates $h(x,y,z)=\left(\begin{array}{ccc}1& x& y\\ 0& 1& z\\ 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right)$, the Heisenberg group law is $h(x,y,z)h(a,b,c)=h(x+a,y+b+xc,z+c)$. Commutation for every $(a,b,c)$ forces $xc=az$, hence $x=z=0$. The center of a group is therefore the $y$-axis. The surjective group homomorphism $h(x,y,z)\mapsto (x,z)$ has exactly this kernel of a group homomorphism, giving the stated quotient group by the first isomorphism theorem.