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A regular category has finite categorical limits, coequalizers of kernel pairs, and regular epimorphism–monomorphism image factorizations whose regular epimorphisms are stable under every pullback in a category. Equivalently, finite limits, pullback-stable regular epimorphism–monomorphism factorizations suffice. In particular, every strong epimorphism in a regular category is regular.

For the weaker hypotheses here, interpret an image factorization as $f=me$ with $m:I\hookrightarrow B$ the least subobject through which $f$ factors, and $e:A\to I$ a strong epimorphism. With pullback in a category constructions, the least-subobject characterization itself implies that $e$ is strong: in a lifting square against a monomorphism, pull that monomorphism back to $I$; since $e$ factors through this pullback, image minimality forces its mono into $I$ to be invertible, giving the required diagonal. Thus the two descriptions of images agree under the stated hypotheses.

For $a:A^{\prime }\hookrightarrow A$, define ${\exists }_f(A^{\prime })$ as the image factorization subobject of $fa:A^{\prime }\to B$. For $b:B^{\prime }\hookrightarrow B$, the pullback in a category universal property and image minimality giveHenceThis is an adjunction between the posets of subobjects.

For Frobenius reciprocity for subobjects, factor $fa=me$ through its image $m:I\hookrightarrow B$, and put $P=I{\times }_B{B}^{\prime }$. Its mono into $B$ represents ${\exists }_f(A^{\prime })\cap B^{\prime }$. The pullback in a category of $e$ along the monomorphism $P\to I$ has domain canonically $A^{\prime }{\times }_B{B}^{\prime }$, which represents $A^{\prime }\cap f^{\ast }(B^{\prime })$. If strong epimorphisms are stable under pullback along monomorphisms, that pulled-back arrow is strong, so its composite with $P\hookrightarrow B$ is an image factorization. This givesEquality here is equality of subobjects, hence an isomorphism of their representatives.

Conversely, let $e:X\to Y$ be a strong epimorphism and $b:B^{\prime }\hookrightarrow Y$ be monic. Its image is all of $Y$: in any image factorization of $e$, the lifting property makes the mono invertible. Apply Frobenius reciprocity for subobjects to $f=e$ and $A^{\prime }=X$. The induced morphism $p:X{\times }_Y{B}^{\prime }\to B^{\prime }$ has image all of $B^{\prime }$, because the image of $bp$ in $Y$ is $B^{\prime }$. Its image factorization therefore has invertible mono, so $p$ is a strong epimorphism. This proves the converse.

We now use the glued ring categories counterexample to regularity. All rings and ring homomorphisms are unital; the zero ring, where $0=1$, is allowed. It is the terminal object of $\mathbf{Rng}$, and there is no unital ring homomorphism from it to a nonzero ring. Denote the common zero ring by $Z$, and the newly adjoined strict initial object by $\perp$. Nonzero objects in different copies have no morphisms between them. There is one morphism from every object to $Z$ and from $\perp$ to every object, and no morphism into $\perp$ except its identity.

Finite products in a category and equalizers can be described explicitly. The terminal object is $Z$. The product in a category of two nonzero objects in one copy is their ordinary ring product; the product in a category of nonzero objects in different copies is $\perp$, since only $\perp$ can map to both. A product with $Z$ is the other factor, and one with $\perp$ is $\perp$. For parallel morphisms between nonzero objects in the same copy, the ordinary ring equalizer works; it is nonzero because its subring contains distinct $0$ and $1$. All other parallel pairs are equal, and their equalizer is the identity of the domain. Thus the construction of small limits from products and equalizers gives all finite categorical limits.

Within either ring copy, monomorphisms are precisely injective ring homomorphisms: maps from $\mathbb{Z}[x]$ detect unequal elements. The only monos from outside a copy are the maps $\perp \to X$, and the only subobjects of $Z$ are $\perp$ and $Z$. Indeed a nonzero ring $R$ is not subterminal, since $\mathbb{Z}[x]\to R$ can send $x$ to $0$ or to $1$.

Ordinary ring-image factorizations remain image factorizations in the glued category. Their surjective parts remain strong epimorphisms: a lifting square into a nonzero ring stays in one copy; a square into $Z$ with mono $\perp \to Z$ would require a nonexistent map from a noninitial domain to $\perp$. Maps with domain $\perp$ are already monic and have identity strong part. Conversely, a strong epimorphism within a ring copy has surjective ring image, since its mono image part must be invertible. A map $\perp \to X$ with $X\ne \perp$ is monic but noninvertible, and therefore cannot be strong. This classifies the strong epimorphisms as the identities of $\perp$ and the surjective homomorphisms in the copies, including maps to $Z$.

Pullback along a monomorphism within a copy preserves those surjections, using the given regularity of $\mathbf{Rng}$. Pullback along $\perp \to X$ gives $1_{\perp }$, and these exhaust the additional monos, including those into $Z$. Thus strong epimorphisms are stable under pullback along monos, so Frobenius reciprocity for subobjects holds.

However, let $e:{\mathbb{Z}}_{\mathcal{D}}\to Z$ be the surjective ring homomorphism in the first copy, and pull it back along $\mathbb{Z}[x{]}_{\mathcal{E}}\to Z$ in the other copy. The resulting arrow isIt is not even an epimorphism, since the distinct evaluation ring homomorphisms $x\mapsto 0$ and $x\mapsto 1$ to ${\mathbb{Z}}_{\mathcal{E}}$ agree after composing with $\perp \to \mathbb{Z}[x{]}_{\mathcal{E}}$. Since $e$ is strong, it would be a regular epimorphism in a regular category, whose pullbacks must be regular, in particular epic. Therefore the glued category has finite limits and images and satisfies Frobenius reciprocity, but is not regular.

These solutions refer to the official examination paper above. All rings are commutative with identity, and all ring homomorphisms preserve identity. Question statements are not reproduced.

Let $T=R\setminus P$. Since $P$ is a prime ideal, $T$ is a multiplicative subset containing $1$ and excluding $0$. The localization at a prime ideal isConcretely, its elements are equivalence classes of pairs $(r,s)\in R\times T$, written $r/s$, withThis extra multiplier is essential when $R$ has zero divisors. Addition and multiplication areThe equivalence criterion is compatible with these operations: after multiplying by the multipliers witnessing changes of representatives, the corresponding numerators agree. The commutative ring axioms follow from those of $R$; the identity is $1/1$.

The canonical ring homomorphism $\iota :R\to R_P$, $r\mapsto r/1$, supplies the algebra over a commutative ring structure, with scalar action $a(r/s)=ar/s$. It also has the universal property of localization: whenever a ring homomorphism $\psi :R\to A$ sends $T$ to units, the unique extension is $r/s\mapsto \psi (r)\psi (s{)}^{-1}$.

For later use, $R_P$ is a local ring with maximal ideal $P{R}_P$. Reduction of numerators and denominators gives a surjective ring homomorphism $R_P\to \mathrm{Frac}(R/P)$ with kernel $P{R}_P$, so this ideal is proper and maximal. Every fraction outside it has numerator outside $P$ and is a unit, with inverse $s/r$. Thus it is the unique maximal ideal.

Yes. Taking the constant coefficient defines a surjective ring homomorphismIts kernel of a ring homomorphism is $(x)$, so the first isomorphism theorem for rings gives $R[[x]]/(x)\cong R$.

We prove the needed preservation result. If $A$ is a Noetherian ring and $J\subseteq A$ is an ideal, any ascending chain of ideals in $A/J$ lifts under the quotient ring homomorphism to an ascending chain of ideals in $A$. The lifted chain stabilizes; surjectivity makes the original chain stabilize as well. Hence every quotient ring of a Noetherian ring is Noetherian.

Applying this with $A=R[[x]]$ and $J=(x)$ gives

No. In the Gaussian integers, chooseIndeed, substituting $i=-2$ gives $\mathbb{Z}[i]/(2+i)\cong \mathbb{Z}/5\mathbb{Z}$, so $P$ is a prime ideal and its contraction is $(5)$. Put $\beta =2-i$. Modulo $P$, $\beta$ becomes $4\ne 0$ in ${\mathbb{F}}_5$, so $\beta \notin P$. ThereforeWe show that $\alpha$ is not an integral element over ${\mathbb{Z}}_{(5)}$, using a direct reduction argument. Write $B={\mathbb{Z}}_{(5)}[i]$, viewed inside $\mathbb{Q}(i)$. There is a ring homomorphismwhich reduces rational coefficients modulo $5$. It is well defined because denominators in ${\mathbb{Z}}_{(5)}$ are not divisible by $5$, and $2^2+1=0$ in ${\mathbb{F}}_5$. In particular, $\rho (\beta )=0$ and $\rho (1)=1$.

If $\alpha$ satisfied a monic equation over ${\mathbb{Z}}_{(5)}$, saymultiplication by ${\beta }^n$ would give an equality in $B$:Applying $\rho$ gives $1=0$ in ${\mathbb{F}}_5$, a contradiction. ConsequentlyThis exhibits why localization of an integral extension at a prime need not be integral. Localizing both rings by the same multiplicative subset preserves an integral extension, but $\mathbb{Z}[i{]}_P$ inverts additional elements, including $2-i$, whose image at the other prime ideal $(2-i)$ is zero. The original extension is integral because $i$ satisfies the monic equation $T^2+1=0$: the subalgebra generated by finitely many integral elements property applies to $\mathbb{Z}[i]$.

For the First Chern class identity, use finite-dimensional classifying maps. A complex line bundle on a compact Hausdorff space embeds in a finite-dimensional trivial vector bundle, so it is a pullback vector bundle of the tautological bundle on some Complex projective space. For the two complex line bundles, the universal tensor product of vector bundles is classified by the mapIts restriction to either factor pulls the tautological bundle back to the tautological bundle on that factor. The degree-two cohomology of the product is the direct sum of the degree-two cohomology of its factors, so these two restrictions determine its First Chern class. Pulling back to $X$ provesThis proves the integral identity, including possible torsion elements in the cohomology of $X$; an argument using only curvature forms would not detect those torsion elements.

The splitting principle for complex vector bundles says that for a vector bundle $E\to X$ there is an iterated projective bundle $p:F(E)\to X$ for which $p^{\ast }$ is injective on integral cohomology, and $p^{\ast }E$ is a direct sum of complex line bundles. The same assertion holds with rational coefficients, and a common such space can split any finite collection of vector bundles. The injectivity follows at each stage from the projective bundle formula for complex vector bundles; a Hermitian metric splits the resulting filtration into a direct sum.

Write $x_i=c_1(L_i)$ for the Chern roots of the pulled-back vector bundle. Define the degree-$2j$ component of its Chern character byThe Fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials expresses each power-sum symmetric polynomial ${\sum }_i{x}_i^j$ uniquely as an integral polynomial in the elementary symmetric polynomials, which are the Chern classes of $E$. Thus the definition makes sense on $X$ itself, without choosing actual Chern roots there. On a compact Hausdorff space, each vector bundle is classified by a finite-dimensional Grassmannian; its high-degree Chern character components therefore vanish. Hence this defines a class in the direct sum $H^{2\ast }(X;\mathbb{Q})$ even if $X$ has no finite dimension. On more general spaces an infinite Chern character is instead interpreted in the product of the even-degree cohomology groups.

On a common splitting space, the Chern roots of a direct sum are the combined root lists, whereas the First Chern class identity makes the Chern roots of a tensor product of vector bundles the pairwise sums $x_i+y_j$. ConsequentlyThe injectivity in the splitting principle for complex vector bundles descends both identities to $X$. Additivity extends the Chern character to the Grothendieck group by $\mathrm{ch}([E]-[F])=\mathrm{ch}(E)-\mathrm{ch}(F)$. Multiplicativity and $\mathrm{ch}(1)=1$ then show that the Chern character is a unital ring homomorphism.

For Complex K-theory of complex projective space, let $\gamma$ be the tautological bundle, put $t=1-[\gamma ]$, and set $h=-c_1(\gamma )$. The cohomology ring of complex projective space is $\mathbb{Z}[h]/(h^{n+1})$. The CW filtration gives a cofibrationThe K-theory six-term exact sequence and Complex K-theory of a sphere give, inductively,Here $b_n$ is the image of a Bott element from $S^{2n}$, normalized so that $\mathrm{ch}(b_n)=h^n$. This normalization follows from the multiplicative form of Bott periodicity: the Chern character of the degree-two Bott element is an integral generator, and multiplication yields the top-degree generator on $S^{2n}$. In particular, the abelian group $K^0({\mathbb{CP}}^n)$ is a free abelian group of rank $n+1$.

Assume inductively that $1,t,\dots ,t^{n-1}$ form an integral basis on ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-1}$. Their lifts, together with $b_n$, form an integral basis on ${\mathbb{CP}}^n$. Sincethe Chern characters of this basis are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$: their first nonzero degrees are $0,2,\dots ,2n$. Thus the Chern character is injective on $K^0({\mathbb{CP}}^n)$. By induction $t^n$ restricts to zero on ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-1}$, so $t^n=a{b}_n$ for an integer $a$. Comparing Chern characters gives $a=1$. Also $\mathrm{ch}(t^{n+1})=0$, so $t^{n+1}=0$. This proves the integral answer, rather than merely its rationalization:The induction begins with ${\mathbb{CP}}^0$ a point and $t=0$.

Write $R=\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-13}]$ and $I=(2,1+\sqrt{-13})$. The mapis a surjective ring homomorphism: in ${\mathbb{F}}_2$, the image of $\sqrt{-13}$ is $1$ and $1^2=-13=1$. Its kernel is exactly $I$. Indeed, both generators lie in the kernel; conversely, if $a+b$ is even, thenand $a-b$ is even. Hence $R/I\cong {\mathbb{F}}_2$ and the index of a subgroup is $[R:I]=2$.

If $I=(\alpha )$ were a principal ideal, multiplication by $\alpha =a+b\sqrt{-13}$ would identify its additive lattice with a sublattice of indexThus principality would require $a^2+13b^2=2$. This Diophantine equation has no integer solution: $b=0$ would give $a^2=2$, while $b\ne 0$ makes the left side at least $13$. Therefore

Restriction and division by powers of $f$ define a natural ring homomorphismIf $\Phi (a/f^n)=0$, then $a{|}_{X_f}=0$, and part (b) gives $f^{m}a=0$ for some $m$; this is exactly the criterion that $a/f^n=0$ in the localization of a ring $A_f$. Hence $\Phi$ is injective. Given $b$ in the target, part (c) gives $f^{N}b=a{|}_{X_f}$ for some $a\in A$, so $b=\Phi (a/f^N)$. Hence $\Phi$ is surjective and

Every restriction map of the structure sheaf of a scheme is a unital ring homomorphism. Thus $p\cdot 1=0$ in $\Gamma (X,{\mathcal{O}}_X)$ implies the same identity in $\Gamma (U,{\mathcal{O}}_X)$ for every open $U$. This proves (ii)$\Rightarrow$(i), so (i) and (ii) are equivalent.

On every open set $U$, define $F_U^{\#}(a)=a^p$. In characteristic of a ring $p$, the binomial theorem gives $(a+b{)}^p=a^p+b^p$, so these are ring homomorphisms; they commute with restrictions and hence define a morphism of sheaves of rings.

On an affine chart $\mathrm{Spec}A$, the inverse image of a prime ideal $\mathfrak{p}$ under the Frobenius endomorphism isby primality. The induced continuous map is therefore the identity. These local morphisms agree on overlaps, giving the Absolute Frobenius morphism $F_X:X\to X$. Its action on the underlying space and on every local section was prescribed, so the morphism is unique.

Let $D$ act on the group algebra $kG$ by conjugation. Its fixed-point algebra isand the centralizer $C_G(D)$ consists of the elements of $G$ commuting with every element of $D$. The Brauer morphism isThus $\beta$ deletes the coefficients of basis elements outside $C_G(D)$. The nonfixed $D$-orbits have cardinality divisible by $p$, so the usual orbit argument shows that this projection is a unital ring homomorphism. Hence

Gauss lemma for polynomials states that the product of two primitive polynomials over a unique factorization domain is primitive. In particular, a primitive polynomial in $\mathbb{Z}[X]$ is reducible over $\mathbb{Q}$ exactly when it is reducible over $\mathbb{Z}$.

Eisenstein criterion says that a primitive polynomialis irreducible over $\mathbb{Q}$ if there is a prime $p$ such that $p\nmid a_n$, $p\mid a_j$ for every $j<n$, and $p^2\nmid a_0$. To prove it, suppose $F=GH$ with both factors of positive degree. After removing contents, Gauss's lemma lets us take $G,H\in \mathbb{Z}[X]$ primitive. Reduction modulo $p$ givesso both reduced factors are monomials of positive degree. Their constant terms are therefore divisible by $p$, making $p^2$ divide $a_0=G(0)H(0)$, a contradiction.

An algebraic integer is a complex number satisfying a monic polynomial in $\mathbb{Z}[X]$. Let $\alpha$ be one and let $m_{\alpha }\in \mathbb{Q}[X]$ be its monic minimal polynomial. The usual proof using polynomial content shows that $m_{\alpha }\in \mathbb{Z}[X]$. The setis the kernel of the polynomial-evaluation ring homomorphism, hence an ideal. Every $f\in I_{\alpha }$ is divisible by $m_{\alpha }$ in $\mathbb{Q}[X]$. Because $m_{\alpha }$ is monic, polynomial division of $f$ by $m_{\alpha }$ takes place in $\mathbb{Z}[X]$, and the remainder must vanish by minimality. Thereforewhere $m_{\alpha }$ is monic and irreducible.

Fortranslation givesThis is Eisenstein at $p=3$, so $f(X+1)$ and therefore $f(X)$ are irreducible over $\mathbb{Q}$. HenceIrreducibility and Gauss's lemma also show that $(f)$ is a prime ideal of $\mathbb{Z}[X]$, soIt is not a field. The class of $2$ is nonzero but not a unit: reducing further modulo $2$ gives a nonzero quotientin which the image of $2$ is zero, whereas a unit must remain a unit under every unital quotient map. Thus

Let $e^2=e$ with $e\ne 0,1$. Then $e(1-e)=0$, and the ideals $eR$ and $(1-e)R$ are nonzero rings with identities $e$ and $1-e$. DefineThis is a ring homomorphism. Its inverse is $(x,y)\mapsto x+y$, because $ex=x$, $(1-e)y=y$, and the cross terms vanish. Hence $R\cong eR\times (1-e)R$, proving (ii).

Reduce coefficients modulo $I$:This is a surjective ring homomorphism and its kernel consists exactly of polynomials all of whose coefficients lie in $I$, namely $I[X]$. The first isomorphism theorem gives the coefficientwise quotient of a polynomial ringIf $I$ is prime, then $R/I$ is an integral domain, so $(R/I)[X]$ is an integral domain. The quotient criterion therefore shows that $I[X]$ is prime in $R[X]$.

For a ring homomorphism $A\to B$, the Module of Kähler differentials ${\Omega }_{B/A}$ is the $B$-module generated by symbols $db$, subject toEquivalently, it represents $A$-linear derivations:For $A\to B\to C$, the Transitivity exact sequence for Kähler differentials isIf $B\to C=B/I$ is surjective, the Conormal exact sequence for Kähler differentials is

Let $L/K$ be a finite field extension. By the primitive element theorem, its maximal separable field extension $L_s/K$ is simple, and transitivity reduces the calculation to a simple algebraic extension. If $L=K(\alpha )$ with minimal polynomial $m_{\alpha }$, thenThus a separable simple extension has zero differentials. Conversely, if $L/K$ is not separable, the purely inseparable part has a generator whose minimal polynomial has zero formal derivative in positive characteristic, producing a nonzero differential. Hence

Now let $\mathrm{char}K=p>0$. If $L=K(a)$, $a^p\notin K$, and $a^{p^2}\in K$, then the minimal polynomial is $T^{p^2}-a^{p^2}$ and has zero derivative, soIf $L=K(a,b)$, where $a\notin K$, $b\notin K(a)$, and $a^p,b^p\in K$, then $[K(a):K]=[L:K(a)]=p$. Both defining equations have zero derivative, and

For the three morphisms, compute the Sheaf of relative Kähler differentials on coordinate rings.

If $\mathrm{char}k\ne 2$, this is $k[y]/(y)dy$ and its support is the origin $V(y)=V(x,y)$. If $\mathrm{char}k=2$, it is free of rank one and its support is all of $X$.

Its support is the origin $V(x)$ in every characteristic; the module is $k[x]/(x)$ unless $\mathrm{char}k=2$, when it is $k[x]/(x^2)$.

Its support is the entire component $V(x)\subset X$.