# Universal coefficient theorem for homology

When Hatcher discusses the universal coefficient theorem for homology (section 3.A, pg. 261), he first takes the exact sequence of chain complexes

$$0 \rightarrow Z_n \xrightarrow{i_n} C_n \xrightarrow{\partial_n} B_{n-1} \rightarrow 0,$$

where $i_n$ is the inclusion and $\partial_n$ is the boundary. Here, the complexes $(Z_n)$ and $(B_n)$ have trivial boundary maps.

Then, he shows that we can tensor it with a given abelian group $G$ to obtain a new short exact sequence of chain complexes

$$0 \rightarrow Z_n \otimes G \xrightarrow{i_n \otimes~1} C_n \otimes G \xrightarrow{\partial_n \otimes~1} B_{n-1} \otimes G \rightarrow 0.$$

From this new short exact sequence of chain complexes, he constructs a long exact sequence of homology, as usual. Because of the triviality of the boundary maps in $(B_n)$, $(Z_n)$, this long exact sequence of homology looks like this:

$$\dots \rightarrow B_n \otimes G \rightarrow Z_n \otimes G \rightarrow H_n(C; G) \xrightarrow{\Large \Phi} B_{n-1} \otimes G \rightarrow \dots$$

What I can't understand is: why is the map $H_n(C ; G) \xrightarrow{\Large \Phi} B_{n-1} \otimes G$ not always zero? After all, isn't $H_n(C ; G)$ just a quotient of the kernel of $\partial_n \otimes 1$ to begin with? And shouldn't this map, $\Phi$, be essentially induced by $\partial_n \otimes 1$??

• Which explicit examples have you tried? – Fly by Night Apr 16 '13 at 1:32

The group $H_{n}(C,G)$ is defined as the homology of the sequence $$...C_{n+1}\otimes G\rightarrow C_{n}\otimes G\rightarrow C_{n-1}\otimes G...$$
If we denote the map $C_{i}\rightarrow C_{i-1}$ by $d_{i}$, then this is $\ker d_{n}\otimes i/Im d_{i+1}\otimes i$. Here $B_{n-1}$ lives in $C_{n-1}$, and $Z_{n}$ lives in $C_{n}$. So by taking the kernel of $Im d_{i+1}\otimes i$ you can only quotient out $B_{n+1}$, not $B_{n}$. I suspect this is the source of your confusion. Some pencil and paper may be helpful for the purpose if you are confused with the notations.