 Multiplicativity of Dirichlet convolution

The Dirichlet convolution of two multiplicative functions is a multiplicative function. For positive coprime integers $m,n$, every positive integer divisor of $mn$ has a unique form $de$ with $d\mid m$ and $e\mid n$, by prime factorization. The pairs $d,e$ and $m/d,n/e$ are each coprime integers, so the defining rules for the two multiplicative functions separate the sum:Also $(f\ast g)(1)=f(1)g(1)=1$. This short argument proves multiplicativity of both the divisor function $1\ast 1$ and the sum-of-divisors function $\mathrm{id}\ast 1$. The result need not be a completely multiplicative function, even when both inputs are: $1\ast 1=\tau$ fails at $2\cdot 2$. ^[ref]