Questions tagged [homological-algebra]

Homological algebra studies homology and cohomology groups in a general algebraic setting, that of chains of vector spaces or modules with composable maps which compose to zero. These groups furnish useful invariants of the original chains.

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Uniqueness of the connecting morphism in the snake lemma

Consider the following commutative diagram in an abelian category:$$\require{AMScd} \begin{CD} @. A @>{f}>> B @>{g}>> C @>>> 0\\ @. @VV{a}V @VV{b}V @VV{c}V \\ 0@>>>...
Gabriel's user avatar
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4 votes
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The induced morphism $B/A\to C/A$ is monic/epi if the morphism $B \to C$ is monic/epi in abelian categories

Let $f: A \to B$ and $g: A \to C$ be two monomorphisms in an abelian category. By definition, $B/A:= \operatorname{coker}(f)$, $C/A:= \operatorname{coker}(g)$. If $h:B\to C$ is another morphism such ...
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CW complex such that action induces action of group ring on cellular chain complex.

Let $X$ be a space that satisfies the hypotheses used to construct a universal cover $\overline{X}$. Let $\pi = \pi_1(X)$ and consider the action of the group $\pi$ on the space $\overline{X}$ given ...
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Example for a functor which preserves direct sums but doesn't preserve split exact sequnces.

Is there a functor from the category of abelian gorups to itself such that $F0=0$ on objects and morphisms and $$ F(M\oplus N)\cong F(M)\oplus F(N) $$ for all abelian groups $M$ and $N$, but such that ...
Redundant Aunt's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
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The homotopy category of complexes

I have some trouble in proving Exercise A3.51 of Eisenbud's book "Commutative Algebra with a view toward Algebraic Geometry", pag. 688. The solution is sketched at pag. 754 at the end of the book. The ...
Coquelicot's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
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Isomorphism involving Eilenberg-Maclane space, Tors.

Let $\pi$ be a group and let $K(\pi, 1)$ be a connected CW complex such that $\pi_1(K(\pi, 1)) = \pi$ and $\pi_q(K(\pi, 1)) = 0$ for $q \neq 1$. Does there exist an isomorphism between $H_*(K(\pi, 1); ...
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Show $\mathbb{Q}$ is not a projective $\mathbb{Z}$ module.

I have seen a few similar questions to this one, namely this one: Prove that $\operatorname{Hom}_{\Bbb{Z}}(\Bbb{Q},\Bbb{Z}) = 0$ and show that $\Bbb{Q}$ is not a projective $\Bbb{Z}$-module., but I ...
MathStudent1324's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
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How do you break up an exact sequence of any length to a "succession of short exact sequences"?

Note that if $\text{Hom}_R(D,-)$ functor takes short exact sequences to short exact sequences then it takes exact sequences of any length to exact sequences since any exact sequence can be broken up ...
Daniel Donnelly's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
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Tensor products of simple modules over algebras

Let $A$ and $B$ be $\mathbb{C}$-algebras. Suppose that $M$ and $N$ are respectively simple $A$ and $B$ modules. We can regard $M$ and $N$ as $A\oplus B$-modules in natural way, namely, $AN=0$ and $...
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Show that for Abelian groups $G$ and $H, \bigl[K(G, n), K(H, n)\bigr] \cong \operatorname{Hom}(G, H).$

Show that for Abelian groups $G$ and $H, \bigl[K(G,n), K(H,n))\bigr] \cong \operatorname{Hom}(G, H).$ I was given a hint to use the following: But I have many stupid questions: 1-First, how I am ...
Emptymind's user avatar
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Give an example of cochain map which is bijective? [closed]

I am looking for a injective cochain map $\psi: C^*\rightarrow D^*$ such that the map $\Psi^i$ from $C^i$ to $D^i$ is injective, but the map $\psi^*$ from $H^i(C^*)$ to $H^i(D^*)$ is not injective ...
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Algebraic Intuition for Homological Algebra and Applications to More Elementary Algebra

I am taking a course next term in homological algebra (using Weibel's classic text) and am having a hard time seeing some of the big picture of the idea behind homological algebra. Now, this sort of ...
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66 votes
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Abstract nonsense proof of snake lemma

During my studies, I always wanted to see a "purely category-theoretical" proof of the Snake Lemma, i.e. a proof that constructs all morphisms (including the snake) and proves exactness via universal ...
Jesko Hüttenhain's user avatar
61 votes
2 answers
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What are exact sequences, metaphysically speaking?

Why is it natural or useful to organize objects (of some appropriate category) into exact sequences? Exact sequences are ubiquitous - and I've encountered them enough to know that they can provide a ...
Joshua Seaton's user avatar
59 votes
3 answers
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Intuition behind Snake Lemma

I've been struggling with this for some time. I can prove the Snake Lemma, but I don't really “understand” it. By that I mean if no one told me Snake Lemma existed, I would not even ...
Tunococ's user avatar
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34 votes
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Applying Freyd-Mitchell's embedding theorem on large categories

One commonly reads that the Freyd-Mitchell's embedding theorem allows proof by diagram chasing in any abelian category. This is not immediately clear, since only small abelian categories can be ...
Felix Hoffmann's user avatar
27 votes
1 answer
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Distinguished triangle induced by short exact sequence

I'm reading about derived categories of abelian categories from Huybrecht's book Fourier-Mukai transforms in algebraic geometry. I'm having a lot of trouble with one of the exercises. In fact, at this ...
Joshua Ruiter's user avatar
24 votes
2 answers
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Rank-nullity theorem for free $\mathbb Z$-modules

From linear algebra we know that given vector spaces $V$, $W$ over a field $k$ and a linear map $f\colon V\to W$ we have $$\dim V = \dim \operatorname{im} f + \dim \ker f.$$ Is this still true when ...
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Induced short exact sequence on wedge product

Let$$0\to E \to F \to L\to0$$be a exact sequence on coherent sheaves and $L$ be a line bundle, then it induces a short exact sequence on wedge product $$0\to \Lambda^p E \to \Lambda^p F \to \Lambda^{p-...
Akatsuki's user avatar
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17 votes
5 answers
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"The Yoneda embedding reflects exactness" is a direct consequence of Yoneda?

Let $A,B,C$ be objects of a category of modules over a ring. It is not hard to see that the Yoneda embedding "reflects exactness" (as Weibel puts it, on p. 28), i.e. if $\hom(X,A)\stackrel{f_*}{\to}\...
Bruno Stonek's user avatar
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15 votes
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Tangent space in a point and First Ext group

Let $X$ be an abelian variety over an algebraically closed field $k$. I have read that one has for an arbitrary closed point $x$ on $X$ a canonical identification $$T_x(X)\simeq \operatorname{Ext}^1(...
Veen's user avatar
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On equivalent definitions of Ext

Let $A$ be an abelian category and $X$, $Y$ two objects of $A$. Let's define Ext in this way: Ext$^i_A(X,Y)$=Hom$_{D(A)}(X[0],Y[i])$ Where $X[0]$ is the complex with all zeros except in degree 0 ...
Mec's user avatar
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4 answers
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Can we use the internal logic of a category to do diagram chases "as in $\mathbf{Ab}$" ?

Disclaimer: I'm not yet really comfortable with internal logics, though I know the basics, so the best answer would not be the most technical one. Suppose you want to prove a diagram lemma (say the ...
Maxime Ramzi's user avatar
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14 votes
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Signs in the tensor product and internal hom of chain complexes

Let $R$ be a commutative ring and $\text{Ch}(R)$ the category of chain complexes of $R$-modules. $\text{Ch}(R)$ is first of all an abelian category, but it can also be equipped with the structure of a ...
Qiaochu Yuan's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
9k views

Minimal free resolution

I'm studying on the book "Cohen-Macaulay rings" of Bruns-Herzog (Here's a link and an image of the page in question for those unable to use Google Books.) At page 17 it talks about minimal free ...
Jacob Fox's user avatar
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12 votes
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Arbitrary products of quasi-coherent sheaves?

I have a short question: Does the category of quasi-coherent sheaves on a scheme have arbitrary products? I know that it does if the scheme is affine and I know that they will not be isomorphic to ...
user8249's user avatar
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1 answer
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How *should* we have known to invent homological algebra?

Previously I asked How did we know to invent homological algebra?, because I was under the misapprehension that concrete examples of long exact sequences had been a major motivation for developing ...
Daniel McLaury's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is the image of a tensor product equal to the tensor product of the images?

Let $S$ be a commutative ring with unity, and let $A,B,A',B'$ be $S$-modules. If $\phi:A\rightarrow A'$ and $\psi:B\rightarrow B'$ are $S$-module homomorphisms, is it true that $$\operatorname{im}(\...
Bart Patzer's user avatar
11 votes
0 answers
957 views

Description of $\mathrm{Ext}^1(R/I,R/J)$

Let $R$ be a commutative ring with unit and $I$ and $J$ are nonzero ideals of $R$. Do we have a nice description for $\mathrm{Ext}^1_R(R/I,R/J)$? What do I mean by a nice description? For example $$\...
messi's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
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Is $\operatorname{Hom}_\mathbb{Z}(\mathbb{Q},\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z})\cong\bigoplus_p\mathbb{Q}_p$?

Is $\operatorname{Hom}_\mathbb{Z}(\mathbb{Q},\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z})\cong\bigoplus_p\mathbb{Q}_p$? Or maybe $\prod_p\mathbb{Q}_p$? I know $\mathbb{Q}/\mathbb{Z}\cong\bigoplus_p \mathbb{Z}_{p^\infty}$, ...
Clara's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
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Wedge sum of spheres is the quotient $X^n/X^{n-1}$

As in the title, I want to prove that $\bigvee_jS_j^n=X^n/X^{n-1};\ X$ is a $CW$ complex and $X^n$ and $X^{n-1}$ are the $n-$ and $n-1$-skeleta. Below, I present a sketch of an attempt using pushouts, ...
Matematleta's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
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Singular $\simeq$ Cellular homology?

Given an arbitrary CW-complex, are the singular chain complex $S_\ast(X)$ and cellular chain complex $C_\ast(X)$ homotopy equivalent or just quasi-isomorphic (some chain map induces isomorphisms on ...
Leo's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
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Does the splitting lemma hold without the axiom of choice?

In part of the proof of the splitting lemma (a left-split short exact sequence of abelian groups is right-split) it seems necessary to invoke the axiom of choice. That is, if $0\to A\overset{f}{\to} B\...
ziggurism's user avatar
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10 votes
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Different definitions of projective objects

There are various characterizations for an $R$-module to be projective. Two of them can be generalized to any category: i) $P$ is an object such that given morphisms $\alpha: A \rightarrow B$ and $\...
Cihan's user avatar
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10 votes
0 answers
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Condition for a ring on projective and free modules problem

Let $R$ be a ring. Then we know that a free module over $R$ is projective. Moreover, if $R$ is a principal ideal domain then a module over $R$ is free if and only if it is projective or if $R$ is ...
trequartista's user avatar
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9 votes
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Is it true that Tensor product of injective modules is injective?

Is it true that if $M$, $N$ are injective modules over a commutative ring $R$ (with identity) then $M\otimes_R N$ is also injective ?
Robert M's user avatar
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Exercise 2.2.1 in Charles A. Weibel's book An Introduction To Homological Algebra

How to prove that a chain complex is a projective object in $ {Ch} $ (chain complexes of $R$-modules) iff it is a split exact complex of projectives? A chain complex of projectives means a chain ...
user150245's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
4k views

Injective resolutions of a complex

Let $\mathcal{A}$ be an abelian category, $M\in\mathcal{A}$. An injective resolution of $M$ is a quasi-isomorphism $M\longrightarrow I$, where $I$ is a complex of injective objects. This can be made ...
user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
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Computing the homology of genus $g$ surface, using Mayer-Vietoris

Let $\Sigma_g$ be the compact orientable surface of genus $g$. I'm trying to compute the homology groups of $\Sigma_g$ using Mayer-Vietoris sequence. To do this, I first calculated the homology groups ...
Dilemian's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
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Relating the Künneth Formula to the Leray-Hirsch Theorem

I am reading through Bott & Tu's Differential Forms in Algebraic Topology, which very early on discusses the Künneth formula and the Leray-Hirsch theorem for smooth principal bundles. The proof of ...
Tyler Holden's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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Correspondence between Ext group and extensions (from Weibel's book)

I am trying to understand the proof of Theorem 3.4.3 from Weibel's book Introduction to homological algebra. The statement is the following. Let $R$ be a ring. Given $R$-modules $A$ and $B$, an ...
guest31's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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Can we see directly from the cocycle condition that 2-cocycles are symmetric?

Let $A$ be an abelian group and let $C$ be a cyclic group. All central extensions of $C$ by $A$ are abelian because in any such extension $$ 1\rightarrow A\rightarrow E\rightarrow C\rightarrow 1$$ ...
Ben Blum-Smith's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
3k views

Computing $\operatorname{Ext}^{1}_{\mathbb{Z}}(\mathbb{Q},\mathbb{Z})$

I'm trying to find an abelian group $B$ such that $\operatorname{Ext}^{1}_{\mathbb{Z}}(\mathbb{Q},B)$ is non-zero. My first guess was just to choose $B=\mathbb{Z}$. Using the following argument, I ...
Paul Gilmartin's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
314 views

More on the homology functor

Following from this question, I am having trouble constructing the Homology functor on chain maps. Let me first sum up what I managed to do. Let $\textbf{A}$ be an abelian category, and let $C_\bullet,...
Anthony's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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Additive functor over a short split exact sequence.

$0\to A'\stackrel{f}{\longrightarrow} A \stackrel{g}{\longrightarrow} A''\to 0$ is a short split exact sequence, where $A'$, $A$, $A''$ are $R$-modules, and $T$ is an additive functor from $R$-$\...
Andylang's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
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Extension group and Baer sum

Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ is an abelian category and $A$ and $B$ are two objects of $\mathcal{A}$, the extensions of $A$ by $B$ consist of isomorphism classes of short exact sequences of the form \begin{...
Wenzhe's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
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Direct sum of exact sequences?

In Hatcher's Algebraic Topology textbook, he has been referring to "direct sum of exact sequences". As far as I know he's never defined this and I can't find what I'm looking for online. Without a ...
Tuo's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
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Long exact sequence in homology: naturality=functoriality?

In every book I've looked, the "naturality" of the long exact sequence in homology simply says that every arrow between short exact sequences translates into an arrow between the long exact sequences ...
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7 votes
1 answer
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Elementary problems that could be solved using homological algebra

I'm in the rather unusual position that I know a bit of homological algebra, like how to compute $\mathsf{Tor}, \mathsf{Ext}$ or local comohology though I barely know more than the basics about groups,...
Stefan Perko's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
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When does tensor product have a (exact) left adjoint?

Let $A$ be a commutative Noetherian ring, and let $F$ be a flat $A$-module. We can assume $A$ is local, so $F$ is projective. Question 1. When does $F\otimes_A-$ preserve injective objects? ...
Brenin's user avatar
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