Math 5591H and 5112 Solutions to homework 3

In all problems, R is assumed to be commutative and unital.

10.4.10. Let N ∼ = Rn be a free module with basis {e1 , . . . , en }.

(a) Let M be a nonzero R-module. Show thatPevery element of M ⊗ N can be written uniquely in the form
P n n
i=1 mi ⊗ ei where mi ∈ M . Deduce that if i=1 mi ⊗ ei = 0 then mi = 0 for all i.
Solution. As we know, there is an isomorphism M ⊗ N ∼ = M ⊗ Rn ∼ = (M ⊗ R)n ∼ = M n with P
m ⊗ (a1 e1 +
n
· · · + an en ) ↔ (a1 m, . . . , an m), m ∈ M , a1 , . . . , an ∈ R. Under this isomorphism, every tensor i=1 mi ⊗ ei
corresponds to the element (m1 , . . . , mn ) of M n , whose “coordinates” m1 , . . . , mn are uniquely defined.
(b) If {e1 , . . . , en } isn’t a basis but only a maximal linearly independent subset of N , show that the second
assertion in (a) needs not be true.
Solution. Take R = Z, N = Z, e1 = 2 ∈ N , M = Z2 , and m1 = 1 ∈ M so that w = m1 ⊗ e1 = 1 ⊗ 2; then
w = 2 ⊗ 1 = 0 = m1 ⊗ 0.

10.4.11. Let {e1 , e2 } be a basis in V = R2 . Show that the element e1 ⊗ e2 + e2 ⊗ e1 is not (cannot be written
as) as a simple tensor in V ⊗R V .
Solution. Every simple
 tensor in V ⊗ V has form u ⊗ v for some u = a1 e1 + a2 e2 ∈ V and v = b1 e1 + b2 e2 ∈ V ,
and in the basis e1 ⊗ e1 , e1 ⊗ e2 , e2 ⊗ e1 , e2 ⊗ e2 is written as

a 1 b1 e 1 ⊗ e 1 + a 1 b2 e 1 ⊗ e 2 + a 2 b1 e 2 ⊗ e 1 + a 2 b2 e 2 ⊗ e 2 .
 
Thus, the matrix of the coordinates of u ⊗ v in this basis is aa12 bb11 aa12 bb22 . This matrix is degenerate (has zero
determinant), whereas the matrix (01 10) of the coordinates of e1 ⊗ e2 + e2 ⊗ e1 is nondegenerate. Hence, this
tensor is not simple.

10.4.16. Let I, J be ideals in R.

(a) Prove that every element of R/I ⊗R/J can be written as a simple tensor of the form (1 mod I)⊗(r mod J).
Solution. For any ai , bi , ci ∈ R we have
n
X n

X


ai (bi mod I) ⊗ (ci mod J) = ai bi ci (1 mod I) ⊗ (1 mod J) = r (1 mod I) ⊗ (1 mod J)
i=1 i=1
= (1 mod I) ⊗ (r mod J),
Pn
where r = i=1 ai bi ci .
(b) Prove that there is an isomorphism R/I ⊗R/J ∼ = R/(I +J) with (r mod I)⊗(r′ mod J) 7→ rr′ mod(I +J),
′
r, r ∈ R.
Solution. The mapping R/I × R/J −→ R/(I + J), (r mod I) ⊗ (r′ mod J) 7→ rr′ mod(I + J), is well defined
(since for any a, b ∈ R, c ∈ I, and d ∈ J we have (a + c)(b + d) = ab mod(I + J)) and bilinear, thus it induces
a homomorphism ϕ: R/I ⊗ R/J ∼ = R/(I + J) with ϕ: (r mod I) ⊗ (r′ mod J) 7→ rr′ mod(I + J) for all r, r′ ∈ R.
Define a homomorphism ψ: R −→ R/I ⊗ R/J by ψ(r) = (1 mod I) ⊗ (r mod J). Then I, J ⊆ ker(ψ),
so I + J ⊆ ker(ψ): indeed, if r ∈ J then ψ(r) = (1 mod I) ⊗ (r mod J) = (1 mod I) ⊗ 0 = 0, and if r ∈ I
then ψ(r) = (1 mod I) ⊗ (r mod J) = (r mod I) ⊗ (1 mod J) = 0. So, ψ factorizes to a homomorphism
R/(I + J) −→ R/I ⊗ R/J. I now claim that ψ = ϕ−1 , this will prove that ϕ is an isomorphism. Indeed,



ϕ ψ(r mod(I + J)) = ϕ (1 mod I) ⊗ (r mod J) = r mod(I + J).

Now let w be a simple tensor from R/I ⊗ R/J, w = (r mod I) ⊗ (r′ mod J). Then

ψ(ϕ(w)) = ψ(rr′ mod(I+J)) = (1 mod I)⊗(rr′ mod J) = r(1 mod I)⊗(r′ mod J) = (r mod I)⊗(r′ mod J) = w.

Another solution. We have (R/I) ⊗ (R/J) ∼= (R/J)/(I(R/J)). The preimage in R of the submodule I(R/J)
of R/J is I + J, so by the 3rd isomorphism theorem, (R/J)/(I(R/J)) ∼
= R/(I + J).

1
10.4.21. Let I and J be ideals in R.
(a) Show that there exists a surjective homomorphism ϕ: I ⊗R J −→ IJ with ϕ(i ⊗ j) = ij for all i ∈ I,
j ∈ J.
Solution. The mapping (i, j) 7→ ij is bilinear on I ×P
J, thus extends to a homomorphism ϕ: I ⊗ J −→ IJ.
n
To show
Pn that ϕ is surjective, let a ∈ IJ; then a = k=1 ik jk for some i1 , . . . , in ∈ I, j1 , . . . , jn ∈ J. Put
u = k=1 ik ⊗ jk ∈ I ⊗ J, then a = ϕ(u).
(b) Give an example to show that ϕ may not be injective.
Solution. Take R = Z4 and I = J = (2) = {0, 2}; then IJ = 0. I claim that I ⊗ J 6= 0, so ϕ cannot be
injective. Indeed, define a mapping I × J −→ Z2 by (0, 0), (0, 2), (2, 0) 7→ 0 and (2, 2) 7→ 1; it is easy to check
that this mapping is bilinear and so, defines a homomorphism onto Z2 .
Or: I and J are, actually, Z4 /(2) = Z2 -modules, both isomorphic to Z2 , and I ⊗Z4 J = I ⊗Z2 J ∼ = Z2 .
Another solution. Take R = Z[x, y] and I = (x, y). For tensor w = x ⊗ y − y ⊗ x we have ϕ(w) = 0; I claim
that w 6= 0 in I ⊗R I. Indeed, the bilinear mapping β: I × I −→ Z defined by β(a1 x + a2 y + a3 xy + · · · , b1 x +
b2 y + b3 xy + · · ·) = a1 b2 induces a homomorphism ψ: I ⊗ I −→ Z, and we have ψ(w) = 1 6= 0, so w 6= 0.

10.4.25. Let S be an R-algebra; prove that S ⊗R R[x] ∼

= S[x] as rings.
Solution. R[x] is a free R-module with basis {1, x, x2 , . . .}, thus S ⊗R R[x] is the direct sum (S ⊗1)⊕(S ⊗x)⊕
(S ⊗ x2 ) ⊕ · · ·. Hence, the natural R-module isomorphism S ⊗R R[x] −→ S[x], which maps α ⊗ xn 7→ αxn ,
α ∈ S, n ≥ 0, is well defined. This isomorphism is multiplicative: for any α1 , α2 ∈ S and n1 , n2 ≥ 0,

(α1 ⊗ xn1 )(α2 ⊗ xn2 ) = (α1 α2 ) ⊗ xn1 +n2 7→ α1 α2 xn1 +n2 = (α1 xn1 )(α2 xn2 ),

so is an isomorphism of rings. Finally, it commutes with multiplication by elements of S: for any α, β ∈ S

and n ≥ 0,
β(α ⊗ xn ) = (βα) ⊗ xn 7→ βαxn = β(αxn ),

so it is an ring isomorphism.

A4. If ϕ1 : M1 −→ N1 and ϕ2 : M2 −→ N2 are two homomorphisms of R-modules, then the homomorphism

ϕ1 ⊗ ϕ2 : M1 ⊗ M2 −→ N1 ⊗ N2 is defined by (ϕ1 ⊗ ϕ2 )(u1 ⊗ u2 ) = ϕ1 (u1 ) ⊗ ϕ2 (u2 ). However, the same
notation ϕ1 ⊗ ϕ2 applies to an element of the tensor product Hom(M1 , N1 ) ⊗ Hom(M2 , N2 ). Prove that there
is a unique homomorphism

Hom(M1 , N1 ) ⊗ Hom(M2 , N2 ) −→ Hom(M1 ⊗ M2 , N1 ⊗ N2 )

that maps ϕ1 ⊗ ϕ2 in the second sense to ϕ1 ⊗ ϕ2 in the first sense.

Solution. Let’s denote ϕ1 ⊗ ϕ2 “in the first sense” by ϕ1 ⊗1 ϕ2 ” and ϕ1 ⊗ ϕ2 “in the second sense” by
ϕ1 ⊗2 ϕ2 ”. The mapping Hom(M1 , N1 ) × Hom(M2 , N2 ) −→ Hom(M1 ⊗ M2 , N1 ⊗ N2 ), (ϕ1 , ϕ2 ) 7→ ϕ1 ⊗1 ϕ2
is bilinear. (Indeed, for ϕ1 , ψ1 ∈ Hom(M1 , N1 ), ϕ2 ∈ Hom(M2 , N2 ), and any u1 ∈ M1 , u2 ∈ M2 we have

(ϕ1 + ψ1 ) ⊗1 ϕ2 (u1 ⊗ u2 ) = (ϕ1 + ψ1 )(u1 ) ⊗ ϕ2 (u2 ) = ϕ1 (u1 ) ⊗ ϕ2 (u2 ) + ψ1 (u1 ) ⊗ ϕ2 (u2 )
= (ϕ1 ⊗1 ϕ2 )(u1 ⊗ u2 ) + (ψ1 ⊗1 ϕ2 )(u1 ⊗ u2 ),

etc.) So, it induces a homomorphism Hom(M1 , N1 ) ⊗ Hom(M2 , N2 ) −→ Hom(M1 ⊗ M2 , N1 ⊗ N2 ) that maps

ϕ1 ⊗2 ϕ2 7→ ϕ1 ⊗1 ϕ2 . Since the simple tensors ϕ1 ⊗2 ϕ2 generate the module Hom(M1 , N1 ) ⊗ Hom(M2 , N2 ),
such a homomorphism is unique.

Bonus:

2
B1. Let A be a unital R-algebra and M be an A-module. By restricting scalars, consider M as an R-module
(with au = (a1A )u). Prove that the R-module homomorphism ϕ: M −→ A ⊗R M defined by ϕ(u) = 1A ⊗ u
is injective and that 1A ⊗ M = ϕ(M ) is a direct summand in A ⊗R M .
Solution. To prove both assertions it suffices to find an R-module homomorphism π: A ⊗R M −→ M such
that π ◦ϕ = IdM : if such π exists, then ϕ is injective, and π is a (left) splitting homomorphism of the short
exact sequence
ϕ

0 −→ M −→ A ⊗R M −→ A ⊗R M /ϕ(M ) −→ 0.
But this is easy: simply put π(α ⊗ u) = αu, α ∈ A, u ∈ M . (Well, to prove that this π is well defined, we
need to start with a bilinear mapping A × M −→ M , etc.)