Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / iii / Paper 18 / 8 / a / Solution

Use the kernel squares in an abelian category argument. If $b$ is monic and $r:X\to A$, $s:X\to K^{\prime }$ satisfy $ar=f^{\prime }s$, then $bgr=g^{\prime }ar=g^{\prime }{f}^{\prime }s=0$, so $gr=0$. The kernel in a category property gives a unique $t:X\to K$ with $ft=r$. The equation $f^{\prime }kt=aft=ar=f^{\prime }s$ and monicity of $f^{\prime }$ give $kt=s$. This proves the left square is a pullback in a category.

Now suppose the right square is a pullback, without imposing the earlier monicity hypothesis on $b$. The pair $(f^{\prime },0):K^{\prime }\to A^{\prime }{\times }_{B^{\prime }}B$ gives a unique $r:K^{\prime }\to A$ with $ar=f^{\prime }$ and $gr=0$. Factor $r=f\ell$ through the kernel. Then $f^{\prime }k\ell =af\ell =ar=f^{\prime }$, so $k\ell =1_{K^{\prime }}$. Also $rk$ and $f$ have the same two pullback projections, hence $rk=f$. Thus $f\ell k=f$ and $\ell k=1_K$. Therefore $k$ is an isomorphism. These arguments use only the relevant kernels, zero arrows and pullback properties; the abelian hypothesis supplies them.