Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2009 / iii / Paper 23 / 2

For a diagram shape $I$, a functor $F:\mathcal{C}\to \mathcal{D}$ preserves categorical limits of shape $I$ if every limiting cone $(L,{\ell }_i)$ over every diagram $D:I\to \mathcal{C}$ is carried to a limiting cone $(FL,F{\ell }_i)$ over $FD$. It reflects categorical limits of that shape if a cone in $\mathcal{C}$ is limiting whenever its image cone is limiting. These properties concern cones which are given; reflection is not an assertion that every cone in the target lifts.

Suppose $F$ is a full and faithful functor and the image of $(L,{\ell }_i)$ is limiting. A cone $(X,x_i)$ in $\mathcal{C}$ becomes a cone in $\mathcal{D}$, so there is a unique $h:FX\to FL$ with $(F{\ell }_i)h=F{x}_i$. Fullness writes $h=Fk$ for some $k:X\to L$. Faithfulness gives ${\ell }_{i}k=x_i$, and also ensures uniqueness: two such $k$ would have the same image, by uniqueness of $h$. Hence the original cone is limiting. This proves every full and faithful functor reflects categorical limits, the limits reflected by full and faithful functors criterion, with no essential-surjectivity requirement.

Take any limiting cone ${\ell }_i:L\to D(i)$ in $\mathcal{C}$ of the given shape. Since $GF$ preserves such categorical limits, the cone $GF{\ell }_i:GFL\to GFD(i)$ is limiting in $\mathcal{E}$. It is the image under $G$ of the cone $F{\ell }_i$ in $\mathcal{D}$. Reflection by $G$ therefore says that $F{\ell }_i$ is limiting in $\mathcal{D}$. Since this works for every diagram and every limiting cone of the specified shape, $F$ preserves categorical limits of that shape.

Write an object of the slice category $\mathcal{D}/X$ as $a:A\to X$. Its morphisms are arrows in $\mathcal{D}$ commuting with these structure maps, and the forgetful functor $U_X$ removes the structure map.

Suppose a square in the slice becomes a pullback square in $\mathcal{D}$, with vertex $p:P\to X$. Given a compatible pair of slice arrows $u:Z\to A$ and $v:Z\to B$, the underlying pullback gives a unique $h:Z\to P$ with the required projection equations. If $r:P\to A$ is one projection, thenwhere $z:Z\to X$ is the structure map. Thus $h$ is automatically a slice morphism, and underlying uniqueness gives uniqueness in the slice. Hence $U_X$ reflects pullbacks.

Now let $e:(E,c)\to (A,a)$ be an equaliser of slice arrows $f,g:(A,a)\rightrightarrows (B,b)$. Consider any underlying arrow $u:Z\to A$ with $fu=gu$. Give $Z$ the structure map $au:Z\to X$. Then $u$ is a slice arrow into $(A,a)$, and the slice equaliser gives a unique $h:Z\to E$ with $eh=u$. Conversely any underlying $h$ with that equation automatically obeys $ch=aeh=au$, so there are no additional factorization possibilities outside the slice. Therefore $U_{X}e$ has the ordinary equaliser universal property in $\mathcal{D}$. This proves $U_X$ preserves equalisers.

Let ${!}_A:A\to 1$ be the unique arrow to the terminal object of $\mathcal{C}$. DefineThis is a functor into the slice category $\mathcal{D}/F1$, because ${!}_{B}f={!}_A$, and $U_{F1}\hat{F}=F$. The terminal object of this slice is $1_{F1}:F1\to F1$, exactly $\hat{F}(1)$, so $\hat{F}$ preserves the terminal object.

The composite $U_{F1}\hat{F}$ preserves pullbacks by hypothesis, and $U_{F1}$ reflects pullbacks by part (b). Part (a), restricted to the pullback shape, therefore shows that $\hat{F}$ preserves pullbacks. The allowed finite-limit criterion now gives that $\hat{F}$ preserves all finite categorical limits, and hence equalisers. Since $U_{F1}$ preserves equalisers, their composite does too. ThusThis is equalizer preservation by pullback-preserving functors. The factorization supplies terminal-object preservation only in the slice; none is asserted for the original $F$.