# Zero monomorphism

In a category with zero morphisms, can someone think of an example where $A\rightarrow B$ is a zero monomorphism but $A$ is not a zero object?

(It is easy to see that $A$ should be a terminal object.)

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By "category with zero morphisms" I will assume you mean a category enriched over pointed sets, so that there is a distinguished zero morphism between any two objects. Suppose $0_{A,B} : A \to B$ is a monomorphism and also a zero morphism. Then, $$0_{A,B} \circ \textrm{id}_A = 0_{A,B} \circ 0_{A,A}$$ and so cancelling $0_{A,B}$, we get $\textrm{id}_A = 0_{A,A}$. It follows that $A$ is a zero object.

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Consider the category of sets and let $A = \lbrace a \rbrace$. Certainly, the category of sets has zero morphisms. However, $A \to \lbrace a,b\rbrace$ is a zero morphism sending $a$ to $a$. But $A$ is not a zero object.

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You are correct clive. I will edit my answer to reflect your correction. Thank you! –  Kris Williams Sep 14 '12 at 13:42
Sorry, I keep mis-reading the post. This now works; ignore my previous comments! –  Clive Newstead Sep 14 '12 at 13:43
It would be interesting to have an example of a category with zero objects answering ashpool's question. However, as stated, the category only needs zero morphism. –  Kris Williams Sep 14 '12 at 13:44
Not really. A zero object is both a terminal object and an initial object, by definition. –  Zhen Lin Sep 14 '12 at 13:49
What I meant by "category with zero morphisms" is that the category has a zero morphism between every pair of objects satisfying certain conditions (composition with a zero morphism is a zero morphism). As such, I don't think the category of sets qualifies. –  ashpool Sep 14 '12 at 13:54

If your category contains zero objects, then all terminal objects are initial, and hence zero objects. (And dually, all initial objects are terminal.)

Proof: Let $T$ be a terminal object, $Z$ be a zero object and $X$ be any object. There are unique arrows $T \overset{i}{\underset{j}{\rightleftarrows}} Z$ and these must form an isomorphism since the identities are the unique arrows $T \to T$ and $Z \to Z$. If $X$ is any object then there is a unique arrow $f:Z \to X$, but then there is an arrow $fi:T \to X$, and if $g:T \to X$ is another such arrow then $f=gj$ and so $fi=gji=g$. Hence $T$ is initial. $\square$

So, to half-answer your question, if $A \to B$ is a zero monomorphism in a category $\mathcal{C}$ then, since $A$ is necessarily terminal, $A$ is a zero object if and only if $\mathcal{C}$ has a zero object. So to find the example you seek, all you have to do is find a zero monomorphism in a category without a zero object.

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