TITLE: $G$ is a group, prove: if $[G: Z(G)]<∞$, then $[G, G]$ is finite.
QUESTION [9 upvotes]: Let $G$ be a group, $Z(G)$ the center of $G$, and $[G, G]$ the commutator subgroup of $G$.  How do I show that if $[G:Z(G)]<\infty$, then $[G.G]$ is finite?
How to prove this? I cannot think of a good approach.

REPLY [8 votes]: Let $T$ be a transversal for $Z(G)$ in $G$, noting that $|T|$ is finite.  Then $[G,G]$ is generated by the commutators $[t_i,t_j]$, where $t_i,t_j\in T$.  Thus $[G,G]$ is finitely generated.
The transfer map from $G$ to $Z(G)$ is given by $g\mapsto g^n$, with $n=[G:Z(G)]$.  Since $Z(G)$ is abelian, $[G,G]$ is in the kernel, and hence for every $x\in [G,G]$, $x^n=1$.
Now $Z(G)\cap [G,G]$ has finite index in $[G,G]$; it is abelian, finitely generated, and has finite exponent.  It is thus a finite group.  Since it has finite index in $[G,G]$, $[G,G]$ is finite as well.