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Let a finitely generated module over an integral domain have a finite generating set $S$ and a maximal independent subset $T$. For each $s\notin T$, dependence of $T\cup \{s\}$ gives a nonzero coefficient $a_s$ with $a_{s}s\in ⟨T⟩$. The product of those coefficients is nonzero and carries the whole module into $⟨T⟩$.

For a Noetherian ring $A$, a finitely generated module $M$ has a finite presentation of a module, and kernels of maps from finite free modules to $M$ are finitely generated. Its affine module sheaf is therefore a coherent sheaf. Conversely, if $\tilde{M}$ is coherent, choose a finite principal open subset cover on which its section modules are finitely generated. Lift their finitely many generators to numerators in $M$. The submodule generated by these numerators becomes all of $M$ on every chart, and hence is all of $M$: its quotient has zero localization at every point. This proves finite generation without assuming that global sections preserve arbitrary sheaf surjections.

Suppose $A\subseteq B$ are unital rings and $B$ is a finitely generated module over $A$ on the right. If $A$ is a right Noetherian ring, then $B_A$ is a Noetherian module. Every right ideal of $B$ is an $A$-submodule, hence has finitely many generators over $A$; these also generate it over $B$. Thus $B$ is a right Noetherian ring. The same argument works on the left under the corresponding hypotheses. Finite-index group ring extensions give an important example, using coset representatives as a finite module basis.

A finite projective module is a finitely generated module that is a projective module. Equivalently it is a direct summand of a finite free module: a finite free surjection splits by projectivity. Its dual module is finite projective and its evaluation map to its double dual module is an isomorphism, since both properties hold for finite free modules and pass to direct summands. Finite generation is needed for this elementary duality argument.

For a nonzero right module $M$ that is a finitely generated module, choose a finite-dimensional generating vector subspace $W$ and define ${\mathrm{GKdim}}_{A}M={\mathrm{limsup}}_{n\to \infty }\log ({\dim }_{k}W{V}^n)/\log n$, where $V$ generates the algebra and contains $1$. For a left module use $V^{n}W$. It is independent of these choices and measures polynomial-order growth of a generating filtration of a module.

For a filtered algebra $A$ with finite-dimensional filtration pieces, a good filtration of a module on a finitely generated module is compatible with multiplication and has finitely generated associated graded module over the associated graded ring. Taking bounded-degree translates of a finite set of module generators supplies such a filtration of a module when the associated graded ring is Noetherian.

A graded module over a graded ring $R={⨁}_i{R}_i$ is an $R$-module with a direct sum decomposition $M={⨁}_d{M}_d$ satisfying $R_i{M}_d\subseteq M_{i+d}$. A graded homomorphism preserves these degrees. Over a polynomial ring with positive variable degrees, a finitely generated module of this kind is bounded below and has finite-dimensional graded components over the coefficient field.

For an ideal of definition $I$ of a Noetherian local ring and a finitely generated module $M$, the Hilbert–Samuel function isFor sufficiently large $n$, it equals the Hilbert-Samuel polynomial.

Every finitely generated module with a grading over the polynomial ring $S=k[X_1,\dots ,X_n]$ has a finite graded free resolution of length at most $n$. The Koszul resolution of $k$ has length $n$, so ${\mathrm{Tor}}_i^S(M,k)=0$ for $i>n$. In a minimal graded free resolution, this Tor functor is $F_i/(X_1,\dots ,X_n)F_i$; the graded Nakayama lemma forces $F_i=0$ for $i>n$.

For a finitely generated module over a principal ideal domain, its invariant factors are nonzero nonunits $d_i$ in a decomposition $M\cong R^r\oplus {⨁}_{i}R/(d_i)$, ordered by $d_i\mid d_{i+1}$. They are unique up to multiplication by units and describe the torsion submodule. Over $F[t]$, making $t$ act as a linear operator recovers the invariant factors of a linear operator used in its rational canonical form.

An invertible module over a commutative ring $A$ is a finitely generated module that is a projective module and whose localization at a prime ideal is free of rank one at every prime. Its dual module $L^{\ast }={\mathrm{Hom}}_A(L,A)$ is also finite projective. Evaluation $L{\otimes }_A{L}^{\ast }\to A$ is an isomorphism after every prime localization, hence is an isomorphism globally by localization detects zero elements. The Picard group of a ring consists of the isomorphism classes of these modules under the tensor product of modules.

Over a Noetherian ring, a finitely generated module $N$ has a free resolution with every term finitely generated. Hom from a finite free module commutes with localization, and exactness of localization commutes with cohomology. Thus the displayed isomorphism holds for every $i\ge 0$ and arbitrary $M$. The finiteness condition is on the first argument; the second need not be finitely generated.

Module theory studies abelian groups with scalar multiplication by a ring. It extends linear algebra: a module over a field is a vector space, while ring scalars let the same language describe integer arithmetic and linear operators. The new phenomena are visible before any abstract classification: some nonzero scalars cannot be divided out, some modules have torsion elements of a module, and some have no basis of a module.

The distinction is useful because an integer relation such as $6m=0$ carries information which disappears if one assumes all nonzero scalars have multiplicative inverses. A finitely generated module over a principal ideal domain can be separated into a finite free module and a torsion module; the structure theorem for finitely generated modules over a principal ideal domain unifies the classification of finitely generated abelian groups with the study of linear operators through polynomial rings. See Keith Conrad's Modules over a PID, Theorem 4.1 and the operator applications.

A historical anchor is Emmy Noether's 1921 paper ^[ref]. Its first section studies rings and ideals under the condition that every ideal is a finitely generated module over its ring, and connects this to the ascending chain condition; later sections develop primary decomposition. This is an early source for the structural viewpoint underlying Noetherian rings. ^[ref] makes those statements accessible in English.

Every unital $k$-subalgebra $A\subseteq k[T,T^{-1}]$ is a Noetherian ring. If $A\subseteq k[T]$ or $k[T^{-1}]$, a nonconstant element $f\in A$ makes that ambient polynomial ring a finitely generated module over $k[f]$. Otherwise $A$ contains an $f$ with both positive and negative exponents, and both $T$ and $T^{-1}$ are integral elements over $k[f]$. In either case $A$ is a submodule of a finite module over the Noetherian ring $k[f]$, and every ideal of $A$ is finitely generated over $k[f]$, hence over $A$.

Work over $\mathbb{C}$, or another field of characteristic zero. The Weyl algebra $A_n$ is generated by $x_1,\dots ,x_n,{\partial }_1,\dots ,{\partial }_n$ with commuting $x$'s, commuting $\partial$'s and $[{\partial }_i,x_j]={\delta }_{ij}$. Its ordered monomial basis of a Weyl algebra consists of the monomials $x^{\alpha }{\partial }^{\beta }$. One way to verify independence is to apply a finite operator relation to the formal exponential $e^{\mathbf{t}\cdot \mathbf{x}}$: after canceling that exponential the relation becomes a polynomial identity $\sum c_{\alpha \beta }{\mathbf{x}}^{\alpha }{\mathbf{t}}^{\beta }=0$, so every coefficient vanishes. The relations already reorder every word into that basis.

Give both generators degree one. The Bernstein filtration isThus $\dim F_m{A}_n=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{m+2n}{2n}\right)$. Commutator terms have lower degree, accounting for the commutative symbol algebra. Since that algebra is Noetherian, leading-symbol generation followed by finite downward degree cancellation proves that $A_n$ is Noetherian on both sides.

A left finitely generated module $M$ has a good filtration, for example $M_m={\sum }_j{F}_m{A}_n{m}_j$ for a finite generating set of the module. More generally one allows fixed degree shifts of the generators. The associated graded module is finite over the symbol algebra. DefineThis is the characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module for the Bernstein algebra filtration. It records where the module's leading symbols remain nonzero and makes noncommutative module growth accessible to commutative algebra.

For a fixed algebra filtration it is independent of the good filtration. Any two such filtrations differ by bounded shifts $M_i\subseteq {\tilde{M}}_{i+c}$ and conversely, since each finite set of generators occurs in bounded degree in the other filtration. If a degree-$d$ operator has symbol annihilating $\mathrm{gr}M$, its $r$th power maps $M_i$ into $M_{i+rd-r}$. For $r>2c$, bounded-shift comparison forces the power of that symbol to annihilate $\mathrm{gr}\tilde{M}$. Reversing the argument gives equal radicals of ideals of annihilators. This is independence of characteristic support from a good module filtration. Changing the algebra filtration itself, for example to the order filtration of a Weyl algebra with the $x_i$ in degree zero, need not preserve the same variety; the convention matters.

The Hilbert-Serre theorem gives an eventual cumulative polynomialHere $d$ is also the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module, and $e(M)>0$ is an integer multiplicity of a filtered module for nonzero $M$. Finite generation bounds $d\le 2n$.

Here is a proof sketch of the essential lower bound, rather than an appeal to its name. For a nonzero $f\in F_m{A}_n$, choose a nonzero monomial of greatest total degree in its ordered expansion, say $x^{\alpha }{\partial }^{\beta }$. The operations $\mathrm{ad}{\partial }_i$ and $\mathrm{ad}(-x_i)$ differentiate this expansion with respect to $x_i$ and ${\partial }_i$. Apply them ${\alpha }_i$ and ${\beta }_i$ times. Lower-degree terms die, and every other monomial of the same degree also dies unless it has exactly those exponents. The result is a nonzero scalar multiple of the chosen coefficient. Characteristic zero is essential for the factorials. Expanding the repeated commutators therefore givesChoose $0\ne v\in M_0$. If $f$ acted as zero on all $M_m$, every $f{v}_{j}v$ would vanish, contrary to $v={\sum }_j{u}_{j}f{v}_{j}v$. Hence the linear action mapis injective. It follows that $\dim F_m{A}_n\le (\dim M_m)(\dim M_{2m})$. Comparing polynomial degrees gives $2n\le 2d$. ThusThis proves Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules through the faithful finite-step action of a Weyl algebra.

The bound is sharp. The polynomial representation $\mathbb{C}[x_1,\dots ,x_n]\cong A_n/{\sum }_i{A}_n{\partial }_i$ has the zero section as its characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module, namely $\xi =0$ and dimension $n$. It is a simple module: differentiate a nonzero polynomial sufficiently to obtain a nonzero constant, then multiply by the $x_i$ to generate the whole module. The module $A_n/{\sum }_i{A}_n{x}_i$ similarly has characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module $x=0$, a fiber of the cotangent bundle. A nonzero free module has the whole cotangent bundle and dimension $2n$. No nonzero finite-dimensional module exists for $n\ge 1$, also seen by taking the trace of $[{\partial }_1,x_1]=I$.

Modules attaining dimension $n$ are holonomic Weyl algebra modules (with the zero module included conventionally). Every nonzero subquotient remains of dimension $n$ by the lower bound and monotonicity of growth. Compatible filtrations in a short exact sequence make the leading multiplicity of a filtered module additive. Since each nonzero factor has positive integer multiplicity of a filtered module, the number of factors in any strict submodule chain is bounded by $e(M)$. Together with Noetherianity, this proves finite composition length. It illustrates why characteristic variety of a Weyl algebra module and multiplicity of a filtered module provide useful structure beyond a list of presentations. In positive characteristic there are finite-dimensional Weyl modules, so the characteristic-zero inequality and this discussion must not be asserted without its field hypothesis.

Choose a basis $x_1,x_2,x_3$ of the Lie algebra and filter its universal enveloping algebra by word length: $F_{0}R=\mathbb{C}$ and $F_{d}R$ is spanned by products of at most $d$ basis elements. The relations $x_j{x}_i-x_i{x}_j=[x_j,x_i]$ replace a degree-two commutator by degree one, so the degree-one symbols commute.

The Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem says the ordered monomials $x_1^{a_1}{x}_2^{a_2}{x}_3^{a_3}$ are a basis. Its relevant proof can be seen by reordering an inverted neighboring pair using the displayed relation. Reordering terminates because same-length terms have fewer inversions and bracket terms have smaller word length. Disjoint swaps commute; the only overlapping three-letter reorderings differ by $[x_i,[x_j,x_k]]+[x_j,[x_k,x_i]]+[x_k,[x_i,x_j]]=0$. The Jacobi identity therefore makes the reduced ordered expression independent of the reordering path. Ordered monomials have no remaining relations and form the basis. Their degree-$d$ symbols giveFor generators $m_1,\dots ,m_q$ of the finitely generated module $M$, put $M_d={\sum }_j{F}_{d}R{m}_j$. This is a good filtration, and $\mathrm{gr}M$ is finite over the three-variable polynomial ring. Define the dimension of a filtered module as the Krull dimension of its associated graded module, equivalently the degree of the eventual cumulative polynomial ${\dim }_{\mathbb{C}}{M}_d$, or the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module. Two good filtrations have bounded shifts, so the growth degree is independent of the generators. Sinceits polynomial degree is at most three. Therefore every nonzero finitely generated $R$-module has dimension at most $3$. The zero module may be assigned the usual separate empty-support convention. This bound also follows immediately from its support of a module inside affine three-space.

A quasi-coherent sheaf is a sheaf of modules which locally has a presentation by free module sheaves:where the index sets may be infinite. Equivalently, on affine neighbourhoods it is an affine module sheaf. A coherent sheaf is locally finitely generated, with the additional requirement that the kernel of every map from a finite free module sheaf is locally finitely generated. On a Noetherian scheme, these conditions are equivalent to being locally associated with a finitely generated module.

For an affine variety $X$ with coordinate ring $A$ and an $A$-module $M$, setRestriction on principal open subsets is the natural module localization map. On an arbitrary open subset, sections are families of these stalk values locally represented by a single fraction from a localization. This constructs the affine module sheaf; its global sections are $M$. Choose a free-module presentation $A^{(J)}\to A^{(I)}\to M\to 0$. Exactness of localization and its compatibility with direct sums yieldThus $\tilde{M}$ is a quasi-coherent sheaf, without a finite-generation assumption.

We now prove coherence of an affine module sheaf. If $M$ is finitely generated, take a surjection $A^r\to M$. Since $A$ is a Noetherian ring, its kernel is finitely generated, so $M$ has a finite presentation of a module. More generally, on every principal affine open, the kernel of a map $A_a^s\to M_a$ is a submodule of a finite free module over the Noetherian ring $A_a$, and is finitely generated. On sheafifying, this verifies both parts of the definition of a coherent sheaf.

Conversely, if $\tilde{M}$ is coherent, choose a finite principal-open cover $X={\bigcup }_{i}D(a_i)$ on which it has finitely many generators. Write those local generators as $m_{ij}/a_i^{r_{ij}}$. Their numerators generate a finite submodule $N={\sum }_{i,j}A{m}_{ij}$ of $M$, and $N_{a_i}=M_{a_i}$ for every $i$. To check that $M/N=0$, let $q\in M/N$. Each equality after localization gives an exponent $r_i$ such that $a_i^{r_i}q=0$. The ideal generated by the $a_i^{r_i}$ is the unit ideal: otherwise a maximal ideal containing all of them would give a point outside the principal-open cover. A linear combination of these powers equal to $1$ consequently annihilates $q$. Every $q$ is zero, proving

Next consider a morphism $\varphi :{\mathcal{G}}_1\to {\mathcal{G}}_2$ between quasi-coherent sheaves. On an affine open $V$ of the target variety, use the assumed affine module-sheaf equivalence to write ${\mathcal{G}}_j{|}_V=\widetilde{M_j}$, with $M_j=\Gamma (V,{\mathcal{G}}_j)$. The sheaf morphism is the sheafification of the module map $\psi =\Gamma (V,\varphi )$. Indeed, its action on a section $m/a^r$ of a principal open is forced by module-linearity and restriction to be $\psi (m)/a^r$. Therefore exactness of localization givesThese identities are compatible with restriction, so $(\ker \varphi ){|}_V=\widetilde{\ker \psi }$. Since this holds on an affine cover, the kernel sheaf is quasi-coherent on every variety. This proof of kernels of quasi-coherent sheaf morphisms does not assert that taking global sections is right exact.

For direct image along a morphism of affine varieties, write $Y$ with coordinate ring $A$, $X$ with coordinate ring $B$, and let $\alpha :A\to B$ be the induced ring homomorphism. If $\mathcal{F}=\tilde{M}$ on $X$, regard $M$ as an $A$-module by restriction of scalars. For $a\in A$,The last equality identifies localization with the scalar action of $a$. It identifies the direct image sheaf with the affine module sheaf of the restricted module, so $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ is quasi-coherent.

Suppose $Y$ is affine and $X={\bigcup }_{i=1}^r{U}_i$ is a finite affine cover. Since a variety is separated, every $U_i\cap U_j$ is affine: it is identified with the inverse image of the closed diagonal morphism inside the affine product $U_i{\times }_k{U}_j$. Write $g_i=f{|}_{U_i}$ and $g_{ij}=f{|}_{U_i\cap U_j}$. Form the morphism of sheaves of modulesBoth sums are finite, and every summand is quasi-coherent by the affine calculation. For every open $V\subseteq Y$, the sheaf gluing axiom on $f^{-1}(V)$ identifies the kernel of this map on sections with $\mathcal{F}(f^{-1}(V))$. HenceThe kernel result proved above establishes quasi-coherence.

Finally, for arbitrary $Y$, take an affine neighbourhood $V\subseteq Y$ and apply the preceding argument to $f^{-1}(V)\to V$. The open subset $f^{-1}(V)$ is again a variety and has a finite affine cover, because varieties have Noetherian Zariski topology. The restriction of $f_{\ast }\mathcal{F}$ to $V$ is exactly the direct image for this restricted morphism. ThusThe finiteness and separation conditions are the relevant hypotheses, not affineness of the original source or target. More generally, quasi-coherence of direct image under a quasi-compact quasi-separated morphism is valid. If one permits nonseparated finite-type prevarieties, each overlap in the argument has a finite affine cover; replacing its summand by the sum of direct images from these charts gives the same kernel, since agreement can be tested on a cover. This also proves the assertion in that convention. It does not extend by this argument to arbitrary spaces with an unrestricted infinite cover.

Suppose first that $M$ is a Noetherian module. An ascending chain of submodules of $N$ is also a chain in $M$, so it stabilizes. A chain in the quotient module $M/N$ lifts to a chain in $M$, so it also stabilizes. Thus both $N$ and $M/N$ are Noetherian modules.

Conversely, let $M_1\subseteq M_2\subseteq \cdots$ be a chain of submodules of $M$. If $N$ and $M/N$ are Noetherian modules, both $M_i\cap N$ and $(M_i+N)/N$ stabilize, say for $i\ge i_0$. For $x\in M_{i+1}$, equality of the images gives $y\in M_i$ with $x-y\in N$. Then $x-y\in M_{i+1}\cap N=M_i\cap N$, and hence $x\in M_i$. This proves the extension direction of Noetherian modules in a short exact sequence.

The left regular module $R$ is Noetherian because $R$ is a left Noetherian ring. Applying the extension result inductively makes each finite direct sum $R^s$ Noetherian. Every finitely generated module on the left is a quotient module of such a direct sum, so it is Noetherian.

A poly-(cyclic or finite) group has a finite subnormal serieswhose factors are cyclic groups or finite groups. We prove that the group ring $R[G_i]$ is a left Noetherian ring by induction. Put $A=R[G_{i-1}]$. A finite factor makes $R[G_i]$ a finite free left $A$-module, using a coset transversal. Its left ideals are $A$-submodules, so finite-module extension preserves Noetherianity handles this case.

If the factor is infinite cyclic, choose a lift $t$ of a generator and let $\sigma (a)=ta{t}^{-1}$. The group ring is the skew Laurent polynomial ring $A[t,t^{-1};\sigma ]$. Here is the required left-sided skew Hilbert basis theorem. For a left ideal $L\subseteq A[t;\sigma ]$, defineEach $I_n$ is a left ideal of $A$. Left multiplication by $t$ gives $I_n\subseteq I_{n+1}$. The ascending chain condition makes these ideals constant for $n\ge n_0$; choose finitely many generators for each $I_n$, $0\le n\le n_0$, and lift them to polynomials $f_{nj}\in L$.

If $f\in L$ has degree $d\ge n_0$ and leading coefficient $a_d$, writeSubtracting ${\sum }_j{\sigma }^d(r_j)t^{d-n_0}{f}_{n_{0}j}$ cancels the leading coefficient. For $d<n_0$, use the lifts for $I_d$ instead. Induction on polynomial degree shows that the finitely many $f_{nj}$ generate $L$. Thus the skew polynomial ring of an automorphism is a left Noetherian ring.

Finally, for a left ideal $K$ of $A[t,t^{-1};\sigma ]$, its intersection with $A[t;\sigma ]$ has finitely many generators. Every $f\in K$ satisfies $t^{m}f\in A[t;\sigma ]$ for some $m\ge 0$, so those same generators generate $K$ after multiplication by $t^{-m}$. This completes the induction and proves that $R[G]$ is left Noetherian, the left-sided form of group rings of poly-(cyclic or finite) groups are Noetherian.

The Jacobson radical is $J(R)={\bigcap }_{L}L$, where $L$ runs over the maximal right ideals. Every proper right ideal $I$ lies in such an $L$: the union of a chain of proper right ideals containing $I$ is a right ideal and remains proper because it omits $1$. Thus Zorn lemma applies.

The right-module form of Nakayama lemma says that a finitely generated module $M$ with $MJ=M$ is zero. More generally, if $N$ is a submodule and $M=N+MJ$, then $M=N$. To prove the first statement, suppose $M\ne 0$ and take a generating set $m_1,\dots ,m_s$ of minimal size. Since $MJ=M$, there are $a_i\in J$ withThe unit criterion for the Jacobson radical makes $1-a_s$ a unit. Hence $m_s$ is generated by the other $m_i$, a contradiction. Apply this result to the quotient module $M/N$ to obtain the general form.

For an injective module endomorphism $f$ of an Artinian module $M$, the descending chain condition givesfor some $n$. Given $x\in M$, write $f^n(x)=f^{n+1}(y)$; injectivity of $f^n$ gives $x=f(y)$. Thus $f$ is surjective, as asserted by Artinian modules are co-Hopfian.

Now $R$ is a semilocal ring and $\overline{V}=V/VJ$ is a finitely generated module over the right Artinian ring $\overline{R}=R/J$. A finite direct sum of copies of $\overline{R}$, and hence its quotient module $\overline{V}$, is an Artinian module. The module endomorphism $\alpha$ induces $\overline{\alpha }$ on $\overline{V}$, and the given inverse-image condition says precisely that $\ker \overline{\alpha }=0$. The preceding argument makes $\overline{\alpha }$ surjective, soThe quotient module $W=V/\alpha (V)$ is finitely generated and satisfies $WJ=W$. Applying Nakayama lemma yields $W=0$. Therefore $\alpha$ is surjective, by surjectivity from injectivity modulo the Jacobson radical.