Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2015 / iii / Paper 4 (Homological and Homotopical Algebra)

Choose a projective presentation $0\to K\stackrel{j}{\to }P\stackrel{\pi }{\to }C\to 0$, with $P$ a projective module. Continuing it to a projective resolution showsIndeed a degree-one cocycle in the Hom functor applied to the projective resolution descends to $K$, while the degree-one coboundaries are exactly restrictions of maps from $P$. This establishes the description of the Ext functor without first assuming the extension classification.

For a module extension with inclusion $i:A\to B$ and quotient map $r:B\to C$, projectivity lifts $\pi$ to $s:P\to B$. Since $rsj=0$, there is a unique map $h:K\to A$ with $ih=sj$. A different lift changes $h$ by $\ell j$ for some $\ell :P\to A$. An equivalence of module extensions, which is the identity on both end modules, also preserves this class. We have therefore defined a map from extension classes to ${\mathrm{Ext}}_R^1(C,A)$.

Conversely, for $h:K\to A$, form the pushout of a module extensionThe map $A\to B_h$ sends $a$ to $[a,0]$, and $B_h\to C$ sends $[a,p]$ to $\pi (p)$. The first is injective because $j$ is injective. If $\pi (p)=0$, write $p=j(k)$; then $[a,p]=[a+h(k),0]$, proving exactness in the middle. The last map is surjective. Thus $B_h$ is a module extension. If $h^{\prime }=h+\ell j$, the map $[a,p]\mapsto [a-\ell (p),p]$ is an equivalence of module extensions from $B_h$ to $B_{h^{\prime }}$. Finally $[a,p]\mapsto i(a)+s(p)$ identifies the pushout of a module extension built from an existing extension with its middle module. These two constructions are inverse, proving the classification:The zero class corresponds to a split short exact sequence. Fixed end modules matter: equivalence does not permit arbitrary automorphisms of $A$ or $C$.

In the second calculation the acting group is the infinite cyclic group. Its modules are modules over the group ring $S=\mathbb{Z}[z,z^{-1}]$, not merely over the underlying ring $\mathbb{Z}$. The trivial representation has $z$ acting as the identity. Its projective resolution isMultiplication by $z-1$ is injective, and the augmentation quotient is $\mathbb{Z}$. Applying the Hom functor into the trivial module makes the differential zero, so ${\mathrm{Ext}}_S^1(\mathbb{Z},\mathbb{Z})\cong \mathbb{Z}$. Taking two copies gives $\boxed{\mathcal{E}({\mathbb{Z}}^2,\mathbb{Z})\cong {\mathbb{Z}}^2}$.

An explicit representative of this extension of trivial modules for an infinite cyclic group is the abelian group $B_{m,n}=\mathbb{Z}u\oplus \mathbb{Z}v\oplus \mathbb{Z}w$, with injection $1\mapsto u$, quotient $v\mapsto (1,0)$, $w\mapsto (0,1)$, and actionThis is an invertible action: the inverse subtracts the same multiples of $u$. Every underlying abelian-group extension splits because ${\mathbb{Z}}^2$ is free, so any group-module extension has this form after choosing lifts of the quotient basis. Replacing those lifts by multiples of $u$ does not alter $m,n$. An equivalence fixing the ends has exactly such changes of lifts, so two representatives are equivalent precisely when their ordered pairs agree. Only $(0,0)$ splits as a group-module extension; overlooking the group action would incorrectly give a single class.

For central $t_1,\dots ,t_n$, define the Koszul complex on central ring elements using formal exterior symbols:with zero terms outside $0\le k\le n$ and differentialThe terms are free bimodules with the formal symbols commuting with coefficients. Centrality makes $d$ a bimodule map, and the terms in $d^2$ cancel in pairs because the $t_i$ commute. This defines the Koszul complex over a possibly noncommutative ring without using an undefined exterior algebra of arbitrary one-sided modules. In particular $K(\mathbf{t}){\otimes }_{R}M$ is a well-defined chain complex of left modules.

A regular sequence on a module means that multiplication by $t_i$ is injective on $M/(t_1,\dots ,t_{i-1})M$ for each $i$, usually with the additional convention that the final quotient is nonzero. The homology vanishing below uses only the injectivity conditions. For one element, the chain complex is $M\stackrel{t_1}{\to }M$, with zero first homology and zeroth homology $M/t_{1}M$.

For the induction let $C=K(t_1,\dots ,t_{n-1}){\otimes }_{R}M$. Adjoining the last generator identifies the new Koszul complex with the mapping cone of multiplication by $t_n$ on $C$. In the convention $\mathrm{Cone}(t_n{)}_k=C_k\oplus C_{k-1}$ its differential is $(a,b)\mapsto (da+t_{n}b,-db)$; the identification is $a+e_n\wedge b$. The long exact sequence in homology of this mapping cone givesThe induction hypothesis is $H_k(C)=0$ for $k>0$ and $H_0(C)=N=M/(t_1,\dots ,t_{n-1})M$. Regularity makes $t_n:N\to N$ injective. Hence the new positive homology is zero and its zeroth homology is $N/t_{n}N$. The augmentation to this quotient induces these homology isomorphisms, giving the quasi-isomorphismwhere the right side is placed in degree zero. The results used are the long exact sequence in homology of a degreewise short exact sequence of complexes and its mapping cone form, together with the stated induction; no unmentioned acyclicity criterion is needed.

For $R=\mathbb{Z}[X]$, $(p,X)$ is a regular sequence: $p$ is a non-zero-divisor in $R$, and multiplication by $X$ is injective in $(\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z})[X]$, even when $p$ is composite. The Koszul resolution of $R/(p,X)$ isWith $N=\mathbb{Z}/q\mathbb{Z}$ and $X$ acting as zero, applying the Hom functor gives the cochain complexThus, more generally, the Ext groups between polynomial-ring residue modules areand vanish in all degrees above two. For the equal-modulus case,These are $R$-modules through $X=0$ and reduction modulo $p$. If the multiplicative self-Ext functor is desired, the Koszul self-Ext algebra is the exterior algebra on two degree-one generators over $\mathbb{Z}/p\mathbb{Z}$. The two contractions on the Koszul resolution lift these classes, square to zero and anticommute, so this description also holds for composite $p$ and characteristic two. For coprime $p,q$, multiplication by $p$ is invertible on $N$, so both its kernel and cokernel vanish:

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.

Use homological grading $d_n:C_n\to C_{n-1}$, with zero terms below degree zero. In the projective model structure on nonnegative chain complexes, the classes are:

Thus a cofibrant complex has a projective module in each degree, and every object is fibrant. An projective acyclic fibration is equivalently a degreewise surjective quasi-isomorphism, including degree zero. To see the degree-zero assertion, lift a degree-zero homology class using the homology isomorphism, then lift the boundary discrepancy using surjectivity in degree one. Conversely a degreewise surjective quasi-isomorphism has the requisite positive-degree surjections.

Let $S^n(R)$ be the sphere chain complex with $R$ in degree $n$ and zero elsewhere. Let $D^n(R)$, for $n\ge 1$, be the disk chain complex with $R$ in degrees $n,n-1$ and identity differential. The generating cofibrations for nonnegative chain complexes areEach is a model cofibration: its degreewise cokernel is a copy of $R$ in one degree. The extra degree-zero generator must not be omitted.

Here is the lifting characterization of an acyclic chain-complex fibration. A right lifting property for $S^{n-1}(R)\to D^n(R)$ says that whenever $x\in Z_{n-1}X$ and $y\in Y_n$ satisfy $f(x)=dy$, there is $z\in X_n$ with $dz=x$ and $f(z)=y$. The generator $0\to S^0(R)$ says that $f_0$ is surjective. For a degreewise surjective quasi-isomorphism, its kernel is acyclic by the long exact sequence in homology. Choose a preliminary lift $z_0$ of $y$. Then $d{z}_0-x$ is a cycle in the kernel; subtract an element of the kernel whose boundary is this cycle. This gives the required $z$.

Conversely the lifting conditions make the kernel acyclic: take $y=0$ and any kernel cycle $x$. They also imply degreewise surjectivity inductively. Having surjectivity below degree $n$, lift $dy$ to an element of $X_{n-1}$, correct its boundary within the acyclic kernel to make it a cycle, and apply the lifting condition to lift $y$. For $n=1$ the chosen degree-zero element is already a cycle. A degreewise surjective map with acyclic kernel is a quasi-isomorphism by the long exact sequence in homology. Hence $I$-injectives are exactly acyclic fibrations.

An object $A$ is sequentially small if for every sequential diagram $Z_0\to Z_1\to \cdots$, the natural mapis bijective. Surjectivity says that a map out of $A$ factors through a finite stage; injectivity says that two such maps agreeing in the colimit agree at a later finite stage. The relative version restricts to the stated class of sequential diagrams. The domains in $I$ have this property: maps from $S^{n-1}(R)$ are cycles in one degree, and filtered colimits commute with these finite equations. Their sequential smallness is also permitted by the hint.

Apply the small object argument to the map $a:X\to Y$. Put $Z_0=X$, $p_0=a$. Given $p_k:Z_k\to Y$, take the set of all commutative squares with a generator $i:A_i\to B_i$ on the left and $p_k$ on the right. Form the pushout of the coproduct of all these $i$ along their maps into $Z_k$, obtaining $Z_{k+1}$. Each bottom map $B_i\to Y$ induces the compatible map $p_{k+1}:Z_{k+1}\to Y$. Repeat for all $k\ge 0$, and set $Z_{\infty }={\mathrm{colim}}_k{Z}_k$. This givesConcretely, attaching $S^{n-1}(R)\to D^n(R)$ adds a free generator in degree $n$ whose boundary is the chosen existing cycle; attaching $0\to S^0(R)$ adds a free degree-zero generator. Thus $j$ is an injection, and its cokernel in each degree is free on the newly attached generators. It is therefore a model cofibration; this also illustrates the relative cell complex description of the left factor.

For a lifting square into $Z_{\infty }\to Y$, sequential smallness of its domain $A_i$ factors the top map through some $Z_k$. The commutativity is already an equality in $Y$, so this is one of the squares attached at stage $k+1$. Its new cell supplies a lift $B_i\to Z_{k+1}\to Z_{\infty }$. Hence $p$ has the right lifting property with respect to every element of $I$, and is an projective acyclic fibration. Every map has the required cofibration–acyclic-fibration factorization. Only the domains need sequential smallness; there is no requirement that $X$, $Y$ or the coproduct of all cells be small.