Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / Prelims / Mathematics I / 7 / b / ii / Solution

Suppose the quotient group $G/A$ is a cyclic group, generated by $gA$. For any $x,y\in G$, there are integers $r,s$ and $a,b\in A$ such thatSince $a,b$ lie in the center of a group, they commute with every element, in particular with each other and with the integer powers of a group element $g$. ThereforeAs $x,y$ were arbitrary, $G$ is an abelian group. This is the cyclic quotient by the center.