For the sl2 Lie algebra, let be the highest-weight vector. The Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt theorem gives the basis , and the defining Lie brackets imply
A positive-degree basis vector is singular exactly when is a positive integer. Therefore is irreducible when .
If , the vector has weight and generates a submodule isomorphic to . The latter is irreducible because . Every nonzero submodule contains a singular vector by the preceding part, and the displayed coefficient shows that this is the only possible proper singular vector. Hence
is the unique proper nonzero submodule, as summarized by the Reducibility of an sl2 Verma module.
Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.
Choose the Borel subalgebra determined by the positive roots. Regard the one-dimensional space as a -module on which acts by zero and acts by . The Verma module is
The Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt theorem identifies it as a vector space with acting on a highest-weight vector .
For each positive root , arbitrary powers of a negative-root vector contribute the geometric series . Consequently the formal character of a weight module is
This product is interpreted in the completion of the group algebra in the negative-root direction; the PBW basis proves that every coefficient is the correct finite weight space dimension.
Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.