# Counterexample to $M$ a $R$-module or rank $n$ then if $N\leq M$, $N$ is a $R$-module of rank $\leq n$

I've seen the following theorem

Let $R$ be a PID (principal ideal domain), If now $M$ is a free $R$-module of rank $n$ and $N\leq M$ a submodule then $N$ is a free $R$-module of rank $\leq n$.

I would like to see the dependence on the PID through a counterexample.

Can I build some counterexample with $(2,x) \trianglelefteq \mathbb{Z}[x]$?

Could anything of the following be used?

Let $R=\mathbb{Z}[x]$ and $M=\mathbb{Z}[x]$ be a $R$-module then $\{1\}$ is a basis of $M$. Because, choose a $f\in M$, then it is possible to create it through choosing $\phi = f \in R$ and considering $\phi \cdot 1 = f$. Now consider $N=(2,x)$ which is submodule of $M$ (right?)

I'm somewhat confused of the rank of $N$ now. $\{1\}$ still seems to be a generator for the module? But this generates to much?

## 2 Answers

{1} can't generate $N$ because $1 \not\in N$. No single element of $N$ generates $N$, so this counterexample should work.

• Clear enough. Does this mean that $N$ does not have any basis? – dietervdf Jan 3 '18 at 2:53
• Correct: $N$ isn't free and doesn't have a basis – BallBoy Jan 3 '18 at 3:33

Take any non-PID $R$ and a projective $R$-module that isn't free. One definition of projective module is that $P$ is projective if there exists $N$ such that $P \oplus N$ is a free $R$-module. In this case $P$ is a submodule of the free module $P \oplus N$ but it's not free.

If $R$ is local or a PID then a projective $R$-module is free.

For example, you can take $R = \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z} \times \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ and then the module $M = \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z} \times 0$. This is clearly a direct summand of $R$ itself, but it's not free.

• I don't really see it, what is $M$ in this case? Also you try to get a counterexample on the free aspect of $N$, would it be possible to get a counter examle on the rank? Would my counterexample then work because $N=(2,x)\trianglelefteq \mathbb{Z}[x]$ is not free? – dietervdf Jan 3 '18 at 3:01
• For now see this: mathoverflow.net/questions/30860/…. I'll think about whether $N$ is free... – Ashwin Iyengar Jan 3 '18 at 3:31
• M is noted now. – Ashwin Iyengar Jan 3 '18 at 8:00