Product of Commuting Elements with Inverses

Theorem
Let $\struct {S, \circ}$ be a monoid whose identity is $e_S$. Let $x, y \in S$ such that $x$ and $y$ are both invertible.

Then:
 * $x \circ y \circ x^{-1} \circ y^{-1} = e_S = x^{-1} \circ y^{-1} \circ x \circ y$

$x$ and $y$ commute.

Proof
As $\struct {S, \circ}$ is a monoid, it is by definition a semigroup.

Therefore $\circ$ is associative, so we can dispense with parentheses.

From Invertible Element of Monoid is Cancellable, we also have that $x, y, x^{-1}, y^{-1}$ are cancellable.

So:

Similarly: