Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2001 / iii / Paper 17 / 5

Let $D:J\to [\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S}]$ be a small diagram in a category. Since $\mathcal{S}$ is a complete category, choose at each $C\in \mathcal{C}$ a categorical limitFor $f:C\to C^{\prime }$, the arrows $D_j(f)p_{j,C}$ form a cone over a diagram at $C^{\prime }$, because the diagram arrows $D_j\to D_k$ are natural transformations. There is therefore a unique arrow $L(f):L(C)\to L(C^{\prime })$ withThe universal property immediately gives $L(1_C)=1_{L(C)}$ and $L(gf)=L(g)L(f)$: both sides have the same composites with every limit projection. Thus $L$ is a functor, and the displayed equations make the $p_j$ natural transformations.

Given any categorical cone $q_j:X\to D_j$ in the functor category, its components induce unique $q_C:X(C)\to L(C)$. For $f:C\to C^{\prime }$, compare $L(f)q_C$ and $q_{C^{\prime }}X(f)$ after each $p_{j,C^{\prime }}$; naturality of $q_j$ makes their composites equal. Hence $q$ is a natural transformation, and uniqueness is componentwise. This proves that $L$ is a categorical limit in $[\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S}]$.

The functor category is complete, and every evaluation functor preserves limits, since evaluating the constructed limit at $C$ gives exactly the chosen limit in $\mathcal{S}$. This is the pointwise limits in a functor category construction; it also covers the empty diagram and its terminal object.

Let $a:X\to Y$ be a natural transformation of categorical presheaves. If every $a_C:X(C)\to Y(C)$ is a surjective function, and $r,s:Y\rightrightarrows Z$ satisfy $ra=sa$, then $r_C{a}_C=s_C{a}_C$ at every $C$. Surjectivity gives $r_C=s_C$ for all $C$, hence $r=s$. Thus $a$ is an epimorphism.

Conversely suppose $y\in Y(C)$ is outside the image of some $a_C$. Construct the pushout witness for failure of pointwise surjectivity explicitly: at each $D$ takeRestrictions send $[(z,k)]$ to $[(Y(f)z,k)]$; naturality of $a$ ensures that every generating identification is respected. Thus $P$ is a categorical presheaf, and the two inclusions $j_0,j_1:Y\to P$ are natural transformations with $j_{0}a=j_{1}a$.

All identifications concern the same element $z$ in its two copies, so an element outside the image is never identified with its other copy. Consequently $j_{0,C}(y)\ne j_{1,C}(y)$, proving $a$ is not an epimorphism. ThereforeThis is the pointwise epimorphism in a functor category criterion. It requires neither a componentwise choice of preimages nor a natural section.