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.
1.1. Universal Properties.
1.1.1. Definition. The commutativity of the diagram (commutative square)
α
A −→ B

γ↓ ↓β
δ
D −→ C
indicates that βα = δγ.
The commutativity of the diagram (commutative triangular)
α
A −→ B

γ& ↓β

C
indicates that βα = γ.
Let R be a ring and (Ai |i ∈ I) be a family of right R-modules Ai , for
each i ∈ I and the direct product (direct sum, resp.) of the family (Ai |i ∈ I),
denoted by Y M
Ai ( Ai , resp.)
i∈I i∈I

We recall some following special homomorphisms:

Y
πj : Ai −→ Aj
i∈I

(ai )i∈I 7−→ aj

M Y
σ: Ai −→ Ai
i∈I ⊂∈I

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(ai )i∈I 7−→ (ai )i∈I

M
ηj : Aj −→ Ai
i∈I
a 7−→ (ti )i∈I
in which ti = 0 if i 6= j and ti = a if i = j.
Now we give the universal property of direct product of modules as fol-
lows:

1.1.2. Theorem. For every right R-module C and every family (γi |i ∈ I) of
right R-module homomorphisms γi : C −→ Ai , i ∈ I, there exists a unique
homomorphism Y
γ : C −→ Ai
i∈I
such that γi = πi γ, i ∈ I, i.e., the following diagram is commutative:
Q πi
Ai −→ Ai
i∈I

γ - ↑ γi

C
Proof. We give the disired mapping
Y
γ : C −→ Ai
i∈I
Let c ∈ C, we get Y
γ(c) = (γi (c))i∈I ∈ Ai .
i∈I
Then γ is a homomorphism and we have immediately
(πi γ)(c) = πi (γ(c)) = γi (c), c ∈ C,
thus γi = πi γ, ∀i ∈ I.
We continue proving the uniqueness of γ. Let also
Y
γ 0 : C −→ Ai
i∈I

such that γi (c) = (πi γ 0 )(c) = πi (γ 0 (c)), then it follows that

γ 0 (c) = (γi (c))i∈I = γ(c), ∀c ∈ C,
thus γ 0 = γ.

Dually, we give the universal property of direct sum of modules as follows:

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1.1.3. Theorem. For every right R-module B and every family (βi |i ∈ I) of
right R-module homomorphisms βi : Ai −→ B, i ∈ I, there exists a unique
right R-module homomorphism
M
β: Ai −→ B
i∈I

such that βi = βηi , i ∈ I, i.e., the following diagram is commutative:

ηi
⊕ Ai ←− Ai
i∈I

β & ↓ βi

Proof. We also give the disired mapping

M
β: Ai −→ B
i∈I
L
Let (ai )i∈I ∈ Ai , we get
i∈I
X
β((ai )i∈I ) = βi (ai ) ∈ B.
i∈I

From the definition of ⊕Ai , the sum runs over the i ∈ I, however ai = 0 for all
except a finite number ai ∈ Ai , thus the sum is thereby meaningful. We also
have β is a homomorphism and

(βηi )(ai ) = β((ti )i∈I ) = βi (ai ), ai ∈ Ai ,

where all tj = 0 for all j ∈ I, except ti = ai . Thus βi = βηi , ∀i ∈ I.

We continue proving the uniqueness of β. Let also
M
β0 : Ai −→ B
i∈I

such that βi = β 0 ηi , then it follows that

βi (ai ) = β 0 ηi (ai ), ∀ai ∈ Ai ,

and every element from ⊕ Ai has a finite support, thus we deduce that β 0 = β.
i∈I