Eckmann–Hilton Argument: Group Operation is a Group Homomorphism
Problem 268
Let $G$ be a group with the identity element $e$ and suppose that we have a group homomorphism $\phi$ from the direct product $G \times G$ to $G$ satisfying
\[\phi(e, g)=g \text{ and } \phi(g, e)=g, \tag{*}\]
for any $g\in G$.
Let $\mu: G\times G \to G$ be a map defined by
\[\mu(g, h)=gh.\]
(That is, $\mu$ is the group operation on $G$.)
Then prove that $\phi=\mu$.
Also prove that the group $G$ is abelian.