Past exam of the rings and modules course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / 2 / a / iv

Put $N=⟨E^{\prime }⟩$ and $P=⟨E^{\prime \prime }⟩$, the submodules generated by the two parts of the basis of a module. Every finite expression in the basis of a module splits into its $E^{\prime }$ terms and its $E^{\prime \prime }$ terms. Thus $M=N+P$.

If $m\in N\cap P$, there are finite expressionsSubtracting gives a finite relation among distinct members of $E$, because $E^{\prime }\cap E^{\prime \prime }=\varnothing$. Their linear independence in a module forces every coefficient to vanish, so $m=0$. HenceThis proves the basis partition gives a module direct sum lemma, also when one part is empty.