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If $F=P\oplus Q$ is a flat module, then $P$ and $Q$ are flat. For an injection $u:U\hookrightarrow V$, distributivity of the tensor product of modules identifies $u\otimes F$ with $(u\otimes P)\oplus (u\otimes Q)$. This map is injective by flatness of $F$. Each component is therefore injective, proving flatness of both summands.

For a flat module $M$ over a commutative ring, every finite relation among elements of $M$ is a finite combination of relations among elements of the ring itself, in the displayed sense. To obtain this, tensor the kernel of the linear map $A^r\to A$, $(u_i)\mapsto {\sum }_i{a}_i{u}_i$, with $M$. Flatness says that this tensor maps onto the kernel in $M^r$. Writing an element of that tensor as a finite sum gives the columns $b_{ij}$ and the elements $n_j$. The converse follows by applying this condition to relations in a tensor product to prove that tensoring preserves injections.

For a multiplicative subset $S$ of a commutative ring $A$, localization preserves short exact sequences of $A$-modules. Surjectivity follows by lifting a numerator. If a fraction maps to zero, some element of $S$ annihilates its image, so multiplying its numerator by that element puts it into the original kernel. For an injective original map, the same criterion shows its localized kernel is zero. Thus $S^{-1}A$ is a flat module over $A$.

A morphism $f:X\to Y$ is flat at $x\in X$ when the local ring ${\mathcal{O}}_{X,x}$ is a flat module over ${\mathcal{O}}_{Y,f(x)}$. It is flat when it is flat at every point.

For $D=k[\epsilon ]/({\epsilon }^2)$, a module $M$ is a flat module exactly when $\ker (\epsilon :M\to M)=\epsilon M$. Flatness implies this by tensoring the exact sequence $0\to (\epsilon )\to D\to k\to 0$. Conversely lift a $k$-basis of $M/\epsilon M$ to $M$. Every element is a finite combination of the lifts plus $\epsilon$ times another such combination, proving generation over $D$. A relation first reduces to zero coefficients modulo $\epsilon$; the kernel condition then reduces its remaining coefficients to zero as well. The lifts form a free $D$-basis, proving flatness.

A morphism of schemes $f:X\to Y$ is a flat morphism when each local ring ${\mathcal{O}}_{X,x}$ is a flat module over ${\mathcal{O}}_{Y,f(x)}$: tensoring with it preserves exact sequences. An open immersion induces isomorphisms on the local rings at its points, so it is flat.

For a closed immersion, the printed equivalence is valid with the additional hypothesis of finite presentation, for example over a locally Noetherian target, and with nonempty source. Here is the proof with that hypothesis. On an affine chart the map is $A\to A/I$, with $I$ finitely generated. If $\mathfrak{p}\supseteq I$, the flat cyclic module $A_{\mathfrak{p}}/I_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is free over the local ring $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$, and its residue-field dimension is one. Therefore its quotient map from $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is an isomorphism and $I_{\mathfrak{p}}=0$. Finite generation gives a neighbourhood of $\mathfrak{p}$ on which $I$ vanishes. The closed image $V(I)$ is consequently open. A nonempty clopen image in a connected target is the whole target; then $I$ vanishes at every prime and is zero. The immersion is an isomorphism. The converse is immediate. This proves the flat closed immersion of finite presentation assertion.

Without finite presentation, connectedness alone does not suffice. Take $A=C([0,1],\mathbb{R})$ and let $\mathfrak{m}=\{a:a(0)=0\}$. Let $I$ consist of functions vanishing on some neighbourhood of zero. The map $A\to A_{\mathfrak{m}}$ has kernel $I$: multiplying such a function by a continuous cutoff equal to one at zero kills it, whereas $ga=0$ with $g(0)\ne 0$ forces $a$ to vanish near zero. This map is surjective, because the reciprocal of any denominator nonzero at zero can be extended continuously from a small neighbourhood of zero to the whole interval. ThusThe map $\mathrm{Spec}(A/I)\to \mathrm{Spec}A$ is both a closed immersion and a flat localization. Its source is connected because its ring is local. Its target is connected because continuous idempotent functions on the connected interval can only be the constants zero and one. It is not an isomorphism: $I$ contains nonzero functions supported away from zero. This supplies a concrete counterexample to the unrestricted assertion. The kernel is a pure ideal; this is the general mechanism behind such examples, as explained in the Stacks Project's treatment of pure ideals.

For the finite-flat fibre assertion, first note the local algebra fact that a finitely generated flat module $M$ over a local ring $(A,\mathfrak{m})$ is free. Choose generators $m_1,\dots ,m_r$ whose residues form a basis of $M/\mathfrak{m}M$, using Nakayama's lemma. If a row $a=(a_1,\dots ,a_r)$ gives a relation $\sum a_i{m}_i=0$, the equational criterion for flatness supplies elements $n_j$ and a matrix $B=(b_{ij})$ such that $m_i={\sum }_j{b}_{ij}{n}_j$ and $aB=0$. Write each $n_j$ as a linear combination of the $m_i$, with coefficient matrix $C$. Then $m=BCm$. Independence modulo $\mathfrak{m}$ makes $BC$ congruent to the identity. This square matrix is invertible over the local ring, and $aBC=0$ implies $a=0$. Thus the chosen generators are a basis. This also justifies the cyclic-module step above; see the finite-flat local lemma.

Now let $\mathcal{A}=f_{\ast }{\mathcal{O}}_X$ for the finite flat morphism. On each affine chart this is the finite flat algebra defining its inverse image. Hence ${\mathcal{A}}_y$ is free over ${\mathcal{O}}_{Y,y}$, of some finite rank $r_y$. Let $\eta$ be the generic point of the irreducible target. Localizing that free module at $\eta$ givesEvery point specializes from the same $\eta$, so every $r_y$ equals the fixed rank at $\eta$. This remains valid if the irreducible target is nonreduced: one compares free ranks over its nonzero generic local ring, not necessarily over a field. The fibre is affine, andConsequentlyThis is finite flat rank over an irreducible scheme. No unjustified replacement of finite flat by finite locally free on an arbitrary base is needed.

For an algebraic curve of finite type over a field, its normalization of an integral scheme is finite and birational. If flat, the preceding rank is one, since the generic fibre has the same function field. Locally its normalization algebra $B$ is therefore a free $A$-module of rank one. The element $1_B$ generates: its image cannot vanish in the one-dimensional fibre algebra, and Nakayama's lemma applies. Thus $A\to B$ is an isomorphism. Conversely the identity normalization is flat.

The parenthetical definition in the PDF does not explicitly impose finite type. One can prove the conclusion even in that broader setting without assuming a finite normalization. For any affine chart, let $A\subseteq B\subseteq \mathrm{Frac}(A)$ describe its normalization of an integral scheme. Integrality makes the map on spectra surjective; if $B$ is flat it is faithfully flat. Faithful flatness gives contraction of ideals, $vB\cap A=vA$. For $b=u/v\in B$, with $u,v\in A$ and $v\ne 0$, one has $u=vb\in vB\cap A=vA$. Thus $u=va$ for some $a\in A$, so $b=a$. Therefore $B=A$ on every chart. We have proved the flat normalization is an isomorphism result and, in particular,

Use the defining criterion that a flat module $E$ makes $u\otimes 1_E$ injective for every injective module homomorphism $u$. By right exactness of the tensor product, preserving injections is equivalent to preserving every short exact sequence.

First assume $E$ is flat over $A$, and fix a maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$. Let $u:U\hookrightarrow V$ be an injection of $A_{\mathfrak{m}}$-modules. Regard it as an injection of $A$-modules. There are natural module isomorphismsFor example, $u_0\otimes (e/s)$ maps to $s^{-1}{u}_0\otimes e$, with inverse $u_0\otimes e\mapsto u_0\otimes (e/1)$. These are well-defined because every $s\notin \mathfrak{m}$ already acts invertibly on $U$. Under these isomorphisms the tensor map is $u{\otimes }_A{1}_E$, which is injective by flatness. Thus $E_{\mathfrak{m}}$ is flat over $A_{\mathfrak{m}}$.

For the converse, assume every $E_{\mathfrak{m}}$ is flat over $A_{\mathfrak{m}}$ and take any injection $u:U\hookrightarrow V$ of $A$-modules. By part (c), each $u_{\mathfrak{m}}$ is injective. Since localization commutes with tensor products, the localization of $u{\otimes }_A{1}_E$ identifies withIt is injective by the assumed local flatness. Apply part (c) again, now to $u{\otimes }_A{1}_E$, to conclude that it is injective globally. Since $u$ was arbitrary, $E$ is flat. ThereforeThis proves flatness is local without any finite-generation hypothesis.

For any injection $u:U\hookrightarrow V$, the direct sum decomposition $F=P\oplus Q$ gives natural module isomorphismsUnder these, $u\otimes 1_F$ is the block-diagonal map $(u\otimes 1_P)\oplus (u\otimes 1_Q)$. It is injective because $F$ is a flat module. If an element lies in the kernel of $u\otimes 1_P$, insert zero in the other component; injectivity of the whole map forces that element to be zero. Hence $u\otimes 1_P$ is injective for every $u$, which proves $\boxed{P\text{ is flat}}$. This establishes that direct summands of flat modules are flat, without a finite-generation assumption.

A flat module is one for which tensoring preserves injections. This is equivalent to exactness of the tensor functor, since the tensor product of modules is always right exact: its universal balanced maps identify tensoring a cokernel with the cokernel of the tensored map.

Suppose $M$ is flat. For every inclusion $N^{\prime }\hookrightarrow N$, the map $N^{\prime }{\otimes }_{A}M\to N{\otimes }_{A}M$ is injective. The detection property proved above therefore makes its character-dual map surjective. Under the character Tensor-hom adjunction, this is exactlyEvery map from a submodule into $M^{\ast }$ thus extends, proving

For a cohomological spectral sequence, $d_r:E_r^{p,q}\to E_r^{p+r,q-r+1}$ and the next page is its cohomology. In the bounded setting, convergence of a spectral sequence to $H^{\ast }$ means that each $H^n$ has a finite decreasing, exhaustive and separated filtration withHere $E_{\infty }^{p,q}$ is the eventual stable value. This determines the associated graded module of $H^n$, rather than automatically a canonical direct-sum decomposition of $H^n$. For unbounded filtrations additional completeness/convergence conditions are necessary; boundedness removes those issues here.

The bounded filtered-complex convergence theorem states the following. If $F^{p}C$ is a decreasing filtration by cochain subcomplexes, preserved by the differential, finite in each cochain degree (uniform bounds $F^{a}C=C$, $F^{b}C=0$ are sufficient), then there is a spectral sequenceThe abutment filtration is $F^p{H}^n(C)=\mathrm{im}[H^n(F^{p}C)\to H^n(C)]$. Its finite length ensures stabilization and the displayed limiting-page identification. The filtered cochain complex need not itself be bounded in cochain degree. In the degreewise finite version, the bounds in degrees $n-1,n,n+1$ suffice to stabilize the terms of total degree $n$.

For a double cochain complex $D^{p,q}$ bounded in both indices, form the total cochain complex ${\mathrm{Tot}}^{n}D={⨁}_{p+q=n}{D}^{p,q}$ with anticommuting differentials $d_h,d_v$ and total differential $d_h+d_v$. If the original differentials commute, inserting the usual sign in one of them gives this convention. Filtering by the first index gives $E_1^{p,q}=H_v^q(D^{p,\ast })$ and then $E_2^{p,q}=H_h^p(H_v^{q}D)$. Filtering by the second index gives the spectral sequence taking horizontal cohomology first and vertical cohomology next. Both filtrations are finite, so both converge to $H^{\ast }(\mathrm{Tot}D)$. This is the two spectral sequences of a bounded double complex construction.

The printed left/left tensor expression needs a handedness repair. Over an arbitrary ring, a tensor product of modules over $R$ pairs a right module with a left module. To retain the order of the printed formula, take $P$ to be a bounded cochain complex of projective right $R$-modules and $M$ a left $R$-module. Alternatively, keep $P$ left, take $M$ right, and write $M{\otimes }_{R}P$ and ${\mathrm{Tor}}_{-p}^R(M,H^{q}P)$. For a commutative ring no repair is needed. We prove the first, correctly typed formulation.

Finite projective dimension gives a finite projective resolution $Q_{\bullet }\to M$ by left modules. Form $D^{p,q}=P^q{\otimes }_R{Q}_{-p}$ for $-d\le p\le 0$. On $x\otimes y$ take $d_v=d_P\otimes 1$ and $d_h=(-1{)}^{q}1\otimes d_Q$. These anticommute, and the double cochain complex is bounded in both directions. Projective modules are flat modules, so taking vertical cohomology first givesThe first identification uses flatness of $Q_{-p}$; the second is the Tor functor computed by resolving its left-module argument $M$. Balancedness of the Tor functor allows either correctly sided projective resolution to compute it, by the double-resolution argument.

Taking horizontal cohomology first instead uses flatness of $P^q$. The resolution $Q_{\bullet }$ then leaves only $P^q{\otimes }_{R}M$ in column $p=0$. Its remaining differential is $d_P\otimes 1$, so the augmentation $\mathrm{Tot}D\to P{\otimes }_{R}M$ is a quasi-isomorphism. Apply the convergence theorem to this underlying abelian-group double complex. The two spectral sequences therefore prove the Künneth spectral sequence:These are abelian groups in general; an extra module structure requires appropriate bimodule hypotheses. The index $p$ is nonpositive, so $-p$ is the nonnegative homological index of the Tor functor.

Finally write the cycle modules as $Z^q=\ker d^q$ and the boundary modules as $B^q=\mathrm{im}{d}^{q-1}$. If every boundary module $B^q$ is projective, the short exact sequence $0\to Z^q\to P^q\to B^{q+1}\to 0$ splits. Thus $Z^q$ is projective. The short exact sequence $0\to B^q\to Z^q\to H^{q}P\to 0$ is now a length-one projective resolution, so ${\mathrm{Tor}}_i^R(H^{q}P,M)=0$ for $i\ge 2$. The $E_2$ page occupies only columns $p=-1,0$. Every $d_r$ for $r\ge 2$ goes $r$ columns to the right, hence has zero source or zero target. ThereforeThis two-column degeneration of a Künneth spectral sequence gives the edge short exact sequencesDegeneration itself does not supply a canonical splitting. Projective boundaries also do not force $H^{q}P$ to be projective: a complex with differential multiplication by $2$ over $\mathbb{Z}$ has projective boundary but a $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ cohomology group.

On the monoidal category of modules over the commutative ring $k$, consider the monad $T=H{\otimes }_k-$ coming from the unit and multiplication of the bialgebra $H$. Its opmonoidal functor structure has comparison mapsHere and below Sweedler notation abbreviates the comultiplication $\Delta h=\sum h_{(1)}\otimes h_{(2)}$. The opmonoidal associativity and unit axioms are the coassociativity and counit laws of the coalgebra. The unit and multiplication of a monad are opmonoidal natural transformations because the bialgebra axioms sayThe Eilenberg-Moore category of this opmonoidal monad is the category of left $H$-modules: a monad-algebra map $H{\otimes }_{k}M\to M$ is exactly a unital associative action.

Applying the preceding construction gives the diagonal bialgebra action and the unit actionThe usual associators and unitors for the tensor product of modules are $H$-linear, and the underlying tensor product is exactly ${\otimes }_k$. The forgetful functor into $k$-modules is strict monoidal. The base need not be a field; the modules need be neither flat modules nor finitely generated modules.

An $R$-module $F$ is flat when $-{\otimes }_{R}F$ preserves injections, equivalently all finite exact sequences. Since $-{\otimes }_{R}R$ is naturally the identity functor, $R$ is flat. A free module is a direct sum of copies of $R$, and tensor products commute with direct sums, so every free module is flat.

As an $R$-module,is free. Therefore the polynomial algebra $R[X]$ is a flat $R$-algebra.

An $A$-module $M$ is a flat module when the tensor functor $-{\otimes }_{A}M$ preserves injections, equivalently when it is exact.

Suppose first that $M$ is flat. For any nonzero $a\in A$, tensor the injection $A\stackrel{a}{\to }A$ with $M$. The resulting map $M\stackrel{a}{\to }M$ is injective, so $am=0$ implies $m=0$. Thus $M$ is a torsion-free module.

Conversely, suppose $M$ is torsion-free over the principal ideal domain $A$. Every finitely generated submodule of $M$ is a finitely generated torsion-free module over a PID, hence a finite free module and therefore flat. The module $M$ is the filtered colimit of these submodules. Tensor products commute with filtered colimits, and filtered colimits of modules preserve exact sequences, so $M$ is flat. This proves that a torsion-free module over a principal ideal domain is flat.

False. Give $\mathbb{C}[X,Y]$ its $\mathbb{C}[T]$-algebra structure byand use the quotient mapsThe induced maps send $T$ to $X$ and $Y$, respectively, so both polynomial rings are free of rank one, hence flat modules, over $\mathbb{C}[T]$.

Their tensor product over the middle ring isHere $T$ acts by zero, so this is the torsion module $\mathbb{C}[T]/(T)$. It is not flat: tensoring the injection $\mathbb{C}[T]\stackrel{T}{\to }\mathbb{C}[T]$ with it produces the zero map on a nonzero module.

An $R$-module $M$ is Noetherian when every submodule is finitely generated, equivalently when every ascending chain of submodules stabilizes.

A free module is an $R$-module with a basis: every element has a unique expression as a finite linear combination of basis elements.

A flat module $M$ is one for which the tensor functor $-{\otimes }_{R}M$ is exact. Since tensor products are always right exact, it is equivalent to require that tensoring with $M$ preserve injections.

A projective module $P$ has the lifting property: for every surjection $E\twoheadrightarrow F$ and every map $P\to F$, there is a map $P\to E$ making the resulting triangle commute. Equivalently, $P$ is a direct summand of a free module.

A morphism of schemes $f:X\to Y$ is a flat morphism when every local-ring map ${\mathcal{O}}_{Y,f(x)}\to {\mathcal{O}}_{X,x}$ makes ${\mathcal{O}}_{X,x}$ a flat module.

In (i), the coordinate map is $k[t]\to k[y]$, $t\mapsto y^2$, andIt is therefore a free module of rank two and the morphism is flat, including in characteristic two.

In (ii), $k[x]$ is finite over the cusp ring $R=k[x^2,x^3]$ and has generic rank one. Were it flat, finite flatness over the local ring at the cusp would make it free of rank one. Its fiber there is insteadwhich has dimension two, so this morphism is not flat.

In (iii), the base coordinate $t$ acts as $x$, and the nonzero element $y$ satisfies $ty=xy=0$. Thus the coordinate ring has torsion as a $k[t]$-module. Since $k[t]$ is a principal ideal domain and a module over it is flat exactly when it is torsion-free, this morphism is not flat. Consequently

Yes. The integers form a principal ideal domain, and over a principal ideal domain a module is flat exactly when it is torsion-free. Thus the torsion-free modules $A$ and $B$ are flat modules. The functoris a composite of two exact tensor functors, so $A{\otimes }_{\mathbb{Z}}B$ is flat. Applying the converse direction of the same characterization shows that it is torsion-free. This is the torsion-free module over a principal ideal domain is flat criterion.

There is an exact sequence of $R$-modulesIf $A$ is a flat module over $R$, tensoring this sequence with $A$ preserves its left exactness. The image of each tensor product inside $A$ is the corresponding extension of an ideal, soBoth displayed inclusions therefore hold. This is the flat extension preserves finite ideal intersections property.

An ideal $I$ is pure when the quotient is a flat module. Equivalently every $a\in I$ satisfies $a=ab$ for some $b\in I$. The latter condition makes $I$ vanish after localizing at primes containing it, while at primes not containing it the quotient is zero. Pure ideals need not be finitely generated. They describe flat morphisms that are closed immersions on affine charts.