Anomaly of the $\text{U}(1)$-$\text{SU}(2)$-$\text{SU}(3)$ triangle diagram In Srednicki's textbook "Quantum Field Theory", Problem 89.3 asks us to show that the Standard Model is anomaly free. I am puzzled by the triangle-vertex diagram whose external lines are a combination of $\text{U}(1)$-$\text{SU}(2)$-$\text{SU}(3)$ gauge fields. As stated in section 75 of this book, in chiral gauge theories, triangle-vertex diagrams have an extra factor of
\begin{equation}
\frac{1}{2}Tr(\{T^{a}_{R}, T^{b}_{R}\}T^{c}_{R}) = A(R)d^{abc}   \tag{75.55}
\end{equation}
where $d^{abc}$ is a completely symmetric tensor that is independent of the representation, $A(R)$ is the anomaly coefficient of R, and $T^{a}_{R}, T^{b}_{R}, T^{c}_{R}$ are generators of the gauge fields. For the case of $\text{U}(1)$-$\text{SU}(2)$-$\text{SU}(3)$, the three generators have different dimensions, i.e., $T^{a}_{R}, T^{b}_{R}$ and $T^{c}_{R}$ are $1\times 1, 2\times 2$ and $3\times 3$ matrices respectively. How can they multiply each other in eq. (75.55)? In the solutions manual, it is said that the combination $\text{U}(1)$-$\text{SU}(2)$-$\text{SU}(3)$ involves the trace of a single $\text{SU}(2)$ or $\text{SU}(3)$ generator, and this vanishes. I don't understand how it comes about?
 A: You are only asking a question about usage:
The problem's answer is trivial, once you appreciate the language involved. 
For a generation of left-handed quarks, consider the 6-d representation.
So your 6-vector would have the up quark in its upper 3 components (representing the 3 colors thereof), and the down in the lower 3. The 12 SM generators then correspond to a dozen 6×6 matrices acting on such vectors.
The SU(2) generators amount to $\tau^i\otimes 1\!\!1_3$, that is, 2×2 Pauli matrices with 3×3 identity ones in each of their entries. The SU(3) ones likewise amount to  $1\!\!1_2\otimes \lambda^a$, that is, Gell-Mann matrices acting on the u triplet block and the very same ones on the d block. The hypercharge commutes with everything and is 1/3 or 1/6 (depending on conventions: the average charge of the doublet or twice that) times $1\!\!1_2 \otimes 1\!\!1_3$.
Except for the hypercharge, the trace of each of the remaining 11 matrices vanishes—do you see that? Moreover, the 1-2-3 product you are asked to consider is thus proportional to $ \tau^i\otimes \lambda^a$, also traceless. 
The trace of the  Kronecker product is the product of the traces of the tensor factors, cf the last equation here. (If this were not painfully obvious to you, consider the diagonal one $ \tau^3\otimes \lambda^3$.) Now  appreciate how this is also true for all reps, including the right-handed ones where the SU(2) generators vanish. (It does not matter their hypercharge is more complicated: the trace of 0 for SU(2) is zero.)  
It is also true for the 2-2-3 anomalies of your problem, as the color part trace will always vanish—and the anticommutator of two Pauli matrices is the identity, in case you needed to know that, but you shouldn't: the duplexed trace of the color space, the right factor of the tensor product, always vanishes. 
A: In practice, you introduces the relevant indices. For example, the gluon vertex features the mere number $(T_R^a)_{\alpha\beta}$ where $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are the colour indices of the quarks in the loop. Each quark propagator has a $\delta_{ab}$. So you end up with a sum over all colours that results into the trace of $T_R^a$, which is 0. The photon vertex in this viewpoint is just a number. The $Z$ vertex is more arcane but the same idea applies: introduce indices. But to prove the result asked in the exercise, you don't even need to explicit the $Z$ vertex since the above inspection of the gluon vertex gives you the result.
A: It is easier to understand when you try to write the amplitude of the triangle diagram for U(1)$\times$ SU(2)$\times$ SU(3). Just to remember, we need the following Feynman rule for non-abelian gauge theories.

Where $T^a$ is the generator of the group and "i and j" are the "color charge" of the particle. In principle, since we have a loop, these generators will be inside of a trace but since they are components of the generators, we just can factorize them and the amplitude will be proportional to the generators.

Here it's important to note that the color charge of an interaction changes when interact with the gauge boson of the same interaction, otherwise the color charge remains in the fermion flow. Let's start with the triangle $SU(3)\times SU(2)^2$

where "i" is the weak charge and "l,m" are color charges. Let's start in the vertex of the weak boson and goes against the fermion flow. This "i" weak charge does not change when this fermion interacts with the gluon vertex and it happens the same when this fermion interacts with the second gluon vertex. It means that the "i" weak charge that starts should be the same at the end (to conserve the weak charg). The story is different for the "l" color charge because it changes to "m" color charge when interacts with the gluon vertex and it changes back to "l" (to conserve the color charge) when interacts with the second gluon vertex. That is how we find a trace of a pauli matrice since the weak charge did not change and a trace of two Gell-Mann matrices.
Now it is very intuitive to show that for the $U(1)\times SU(2)\times SU(3)$ diagram there are traces for each generators.

In conclusion, you can calculate contribution of any triangle diagrams, just writing the amplitude and playing with the color charges.
Caveat: Do not confuse when I say color charge. I have used color charge to refer a general charge of any interaction and also for strong interaction.
