Chapter 1: Further Theory of Modules

In this Chapter, we assume that R is a ring with identity 1 6= 0 and M

is a unita right R-module.

§1. Supplement to Direct Product, Direct Sum of

Modules and Free Modules.

1.2. Homomorphisms.
Let (Ai |I ∈ I) and (Bi |i ∈ I) be two families of right R-modules Ai , Bi .
Assume that (αi |i ∈ I) is a family of homomorphisms αi : Ai −→ Bi , i ∈ I.
Under these assumptions, we have the following:

1.2.1. Proposition. The following mappings defined by

Q Q Q
αi : Ai −→ Bi
i∈I i∈I i∈I
(ai )i∈I 7−→ (αi (ai ))i∈I
L L L
αi : Ai −→ Bi
i∈I i∈I i∈I
(ai )i∈I 7−→ (αi (ai ))i∈I
are homomorphisms,
Q moreover
αi is a monomorphism ⇔ ⊕αi is a monomorphism ⇔ ∀i ∈ I [αi is a
monomorphism].
Q
αi is an epimorphism ⇔ ⊕αi is an epimorphism ⇔ ∀i ∈ I [αi is an
epimorphism].
Q
αi is an isomorphism ⇔ ⊕αi is an isomorphism ⇔ ∀i ∈ I [αi is an
isomorphism].

Proof. We leave it for readers as exercises.

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1.2.2. Proposition. We have

Y Y
Ker(αi ) ∼
= Ker( αi ).
i∈I i∈I

M M
Ker(αi ) ∼
= Ker( αi ).
i∈I i∈I
Y Y
Im(αi ) ∼
= Im( αi ).
i∈I i∈I
M M
Im(αi ) ∼
= Im( αi ).
i∈I i∈I

Proof. It’s easy to prove the following mappings are isomorphisms:

Q Q
Ker(αi ) −→ Ker( αi )
i∈I i∈I
(ai )i∈I 7−→ (ιi (ai ))i∈I
L L
Ker(αi ) −→ Ker( αi )
i∈I i∈I
(ai )i∈I 7−→(ιi (ai ))i∈I
Q Q
Im(αi ) −→ Im( αi )
i∈I i∈I
(bi )i∈I 7−→(ι0i (bi ))i∈I
L L
Im(αi ) −→ Im( αi )
i∈I i∈I
(bi )i∈I 7−→ (ι0i (bi ))i∈I
where
ιi : Ker(αi ) −→ Ai , i∈I
ai 7−→ ai
ι0i : Im(αi ) −→ Bi , i∈I
.
bi 7−→ bi
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1.2.3. Theorem. The following mapping:

L Q Q
Φ : HomR ( Ai , Bj ) ∼
= HomR (Ai , Bj )
i∈I j∈J (i,j)∈I×J
ϕ 7−→ (πj ϕηi )(i,j)∈I×J

is an ZZ-isomorphism.

Proof. Step 1: To prove that Φ is a ZZ-homomorphism is easy.

Step 2: To prove thatQΦ is a monomorphism: Let take a nonzero homo-
morphism ϕ ∈ HomR (⊕Ai , Bj). Then there exists
M
(ai )i∈I ∈ Ai
P
such that ϕ((ai )i∈I ) 6= 0. Since (ai )i∈I = ai , where ai = (ck )k∈I , ck = 0 for
ai 6=0
all except ci = ai , we have
X X
ϕ((ai )i∈I ) = ϕ( ai ) = ϕ(ai ) 6= 0.
ai 6=0 ai 6=0

P
So there exists i such that ϕ( ai ) = ϕηi (ai ) = 0; and there also exists j such
ai 6=0
that πj ϕηi (ai ) 6= 0. It follows that πj ϕηi 6= 0.
Step 2: To prove that Φ is an epimorphism: Let
Y
(αji )ji ∈ HomR (Ai , Bj ).
(i,j)∈I×J

We fix i ∈ I. So with the family (αji )j∈J , whereQαji : Ai −→ Bj , by Theorem

1.1.2, there exists a homomorphism βi : Ai −→ Bj such that
j∈J

Q πj
Bj −→ Bj
j∈J

βi - ↑ αji

Ai

is commutative, i.e., πj βi = αji .

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Now, with the family

Q (βi )i∈I , by Theorem 1.1.3, there exists a homo-
morphism ϕ : ⊕Ai −→ Bj such that
ηi
⊕ Ai ←− Ai
i∈I

ϕ& ↓ βi
Q
Bj
j∈J

is commutative, i.e., ϕηi = βi . Then it follows αji = πj βi = πj ϕηi . So the

assertion follows.

1.2.4. Corollary. The following mappings

L ∼ Q
HomR ( Ai , B) = HomR (Ai , B)
i∈I i∈I
ϕ 7−→ (ϕηi )i∈I
Q ∼ Q
HomR (A, Bj ) = HomR (A, Bj )
j∈J j∈J
ϕ 7−→ (πj ϕ)j∈J
are ZZ-isomorphisms.

Proof. We leave it for readers as exercises.

1.3. Free modules.

1.3.1. Theorem. A module F is free if and only if F has a subset S such

that any mapping f from S to a module M can be extended uniquely to a right
R-module homomorphism from F to M.

Proof. The ”only if” part: Let F be free with the basis S and f be a mapping
from S to any right R-module M. Then we take

f¯ : PF −→ PM
srs 7−→ f (s)rs ,
s∈S s∈S

where (rs )s∈S has a finite support. We know that f¯ is a quite defined right
R-module homomorphism that is extended uniquely of f .
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Now we prove ”if” part: We assume that F has the given property.
Construct a free module M = ⊕i∈S Ri where Ri = R for all i. Then the
map f : S −→ M with f (i) = ei (where ei has 1 in its ith component and
zeros elsewhere) extends to a homomorphism (also called f ) from F to M. Let
g : M −→ F be the module homomorphism determined by g(ei ) = i. Then
g ◦ f is the identity on S, hence on F , by the uniqueness assumption. Similarly,
f ◦ g = 1.

1.3.2. Proposition. Let M, N be two free right R-modules that have the
same basis’ cardinality. Then MR ∼
= NR .

Proof. Since M, N are two free right R-modules with basis S and S 0 respec-
tively and that they have the same basis’ cardinality so there is a bijective α
from S to S 0 . Now we put

β: PM −→ PN
srs 7−→ α(s)rs
s∈S s∈S

and it is easy to prove β is an isomorphism.