Take disjoint cycles
α,
β. We want to show that
αβ=βα, and will do so by showing that always
(αβ)x=(βα)x.
First note that for given
x,
x is
fixed under β iff α(x) is
fixed under β. Likewise,
x is
fixed under α iff β(x) is
fixed under α.
Now take arbitrary
x. Since
α and
β are disjoint, then
x is
fixed under at
least one. This gives three cases:
1.
x is
fixed under both
α and
β. Then also
α(x) is
fixed under β and vice-versa. Thus,
(αβ)x=α(β(x))=x=β(α(x))=(βα)x
2.
x is
fixed under α but not
β. Then also
β(x) is
fixed under α. Thus,
(αβ)x=α(β(x))=β(x)=β(α(x))=(βα)x
3.
x is
fixed under β but not
α. Then for similar reasons,
(αβ)x=α(β(x))=α(x)=β(α(x))=(βα)x
In each case,
(αβ)x=(βα)x. Therefore,
αβ=βα.