Past exam of the algebra course of the University of Oxford / 2011 / 2 / b / i / Solution

Write $e_{ij}$ for the matrix units. Left multiplication by $a=\left(\begin{array}{cc}r& s\\ 0& t\end{array}\right)$ givesThus a composition series of a module isEach quotient is one-dimensional, hence a simple module. The required direct sum isThe first summand is simple. The second has a unique nonzero proper submodule, $\mathbb{C}{e}_{12}$: any vector $u{e}_{12}+v{e}_{22}$ with $v\ne 0$ generates $e_{12}$ by applying $e_{12}$ and then generates $e_{22}$. A decomposition into two nonzero summands would require a second one-dimensional submodule, which is impossible. Hence this summand is an indecomposable module.