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A block of a finite-dimensional associative algebra $R$ is a two-sided ideal $Re$ associated with a primitive idempotent $e$ in the center of an associative algebra. Its identity is $e$, and $R$ is the product of these blocks. An $R$-module belongs to this block if $eM=M$. For a semisimple algebra, the Artin–Wedderburn theorem says the blocks are its full matrix algebras over division rings. For a group algebra this specializes to a block of a group algebra.

For a finite-dimensional semisimple algebra acting faithfully on $T$, write $T={⨁}_i{S}_i\otimes M_i$. Then the algebra acts by the full matrix algebra on each simple factor, while its commutant acts by the full matrix algebra on each multiplicity factor. Taking the commutant twice recovers the original image. This is the algebraic basis of Schur–Weyl duality.

In characteristic $p>0$, the displayed map on the cocenter of a finite-dimensional algebra is additive and Frobenius-semilinear. Expand a $p$th power into words: nonconstant cyclic-word orbits have length $p$ and cancel modulo commutators. Also $(ab{)}^p$ and $(ba{)}^p$ have the same cocenter class, so the map kills additive commutators and is well defined.

Over a perfect field with split semisimple quotient, the stable image of this map has dimension equal to the number of simple modules of the algebra. Indeed, the kernel of $C(A)\to C(A/J(A))$ has representatives in the nilpotent Jacobson radical, so an iterate kills it. On the semisimple algebra quotient, each matrix-block coordinate is a field trace, and $\mathrm{tr}(a^p)=\mathrm{tr}(a{)}^p$. For a split semisimple quotient, Frobenius is bijective on every coordinate. In a group algebra over an algebraically closed field, the stable image has the p-regular element conjugacy classes as its basis, proving the simple-module counting theorem.

For the chain $S_0\subset \cdots \subset S_n$, the Gelfand–Tsetlin algebra in $\mathbb{C}{S}_n$ is generated by the centers of $\mathbb{C}{S}_r$ for $0\le r\le n$. Multiplicity-free restriction makes its joint eigenspaces one-dimensional in each irreducible representation. Products of the central primitive idempotents along restriction paths give its minimal projections. Thus it is a maximal commutative subalgebra and a semisimple algebra, isomorphic to a finite product of copies of $\mathbb{C}$.

The group norm element in the group algebra $kG$ is $N_G={\sum }_{g\in G}g$. It spans the invariant subspace of the left regular group representation, and $N_G^2=|G|N_G$. If the characteristic divides $|G|$, a projection from $kG$ onto $k{N}_G$ would send $N_G$ to both itself and zero, proving that $kG$ is not a semisimple algebra. Its action on indecomposable modules is described by group norm element detects the trivial projective cover.

For a finite-dimensional symmetric algebra over any field, an indecomposable projective module $P=Ae$ has isomorphic simple head of a module and socle. A symmetrizing functional pairs $eA$ with $Ae$ nondegenerately, identifying $Ae$ with the left dual module $D(eA)$. Taking its socle gives $D(eA/eAJ(A))$. This dual of the right simple top and the left simple top $Ae/J(A)e$ belong to the same matrix block of the semisimple algebra $A/J(A)$, so they are isomorphic. The result does not require an algebraically closed ground field.

If $I$ is a nilpotent ideal and $J(A/I)=0$, then $I=J(A)$. Every $1-ax$, $x\in I$, has a finite geometric-series inverse, giving $I\subseteq J(A)$. The radical's image lies in $J(A/I)=0$, giving the reverse inclusion. A semisimple algebra as quotient supplies the required zero radical.

Write $A=kG$ and $J=J(A)$, its Jacobson radical. First suppose the characteristic is $p>0$. We prove the counting statement through the cocenter of a finite-dimensional algebrawhere $[A,A]$ is the linear span of commutators, not an ideal. In a group algebra, this span is exactly the span of differences of conjugate group elements: $gh-hg$ is such a difference, and $xg{x}^{-1}-g=[x,g{x}^{-1}]$. Consequently $C(A)$ has one basis vector for each conjugacy class.

There is a well-defined Frobenius map on an algebra cocenterHere $F$ is additive and $F(c[a])=c^{p}F([a])$. To prove additivity, expand $(a+b{)}^p$ into words of length $p$. Cyclic rotations of a word are equal modulo commutators. Every nonconstant word has a rotation orbit of length $p$, so its orbit contributes zero; only $a^p,b^p$ remain. Alsobecause the two products are cyclic rotations. Additivity then shows that the whole commutator subspace maps to zero, proving well-definedness on the quotient.

Let $s$ be the number of simple modules up to isomorphism. The semisimple algebra $A/J$ is ${\prod }_{\nu =1}^s{M}_{d_{\nu }}(k)$: over an algebraically closed field, a finite-dimensional division algebra is the field itself, since the minimal polynomial of any element splits into linear factors and a division algebra has no zero divisors. In a matrix algebra, the commutator subspace is precisely the traceless matrices. Off-diagonal matrix units are commutators, and $E_{ii}-E_{jj}=[E_{ij},E_{ji}]$; these span that subspace in every characteristic. ThusThe map induced by $F$ on each coordinate is $z\mapsto z^p$, since $\mathrm{tr}(B^p)=(\mathrm{tr}B{)}^p$. This is bijective because $k$ is a perfect field.

The natural surjection $C(A)\twoheadrightarrow C(A/J)$ has kernel $(J+[A,A])/[A,A]$. Every kernel class has a representative in $J$. Since $J$ is nilpotent, $F^N$ kills that kernel for sufficiently large $N$. On the quotient it remains bijective, so its image has dimension exactly $s$. On the conjugacy-class basis, however,For large $N$, every $g^{p^N}$ is a p-regular element; moreover the $p^N$-power map permutes the p-regular conjugacy classes, because an inverse exponent can be chosen modulo the prime-to-$p$ part of the exponent of $G$. The stable image therefore has precisely those conjugacy classes as its basis. Comparing dimensions provesThis argument uses dimensions of semilinear images: a bijective scalar Frobenius map preserves dimension, so the usual rank count applies.

In characteristic zero every group element is relevant. Averaging a linear projection onto a submodule over $G$ makes that projection $G$-equivariant, proving Maschke's theorem and semisimplicity of $kG$. The same matrix-algebra cocenter calculation now gives $s=\dim C(kG)$, the total number of conjugacy classes.

For the second request, $M$ is a relative projective module for $H$ when every $G$-equivariant epimorphism onto $M$ which splits after restriction to $H$ already splits over $G$. Equivalently $M$ is a direct summand of $kG{\otimes }_{kH}M$, the induced representation of the restriction of a representation to $H$. We can verify the defining splitting property directly: if $q:N\twoheadrightarrow M$ has an $H$-linear section $u$, choose representatives $T$ of the left cosets $G/H$ and setThe sum is independent of representatives by $H$-linearity. Reindexing $gt=t^{\prime }h$ proves $G$-linearity, while $qv(m)=[G:H{]}^{-1}{\sum }_{t}m=m$. Hence every $M$ is relatively $H$-projective when the index is invertible in $k$.

For completeness the canonical induced-module epimorphism $\epsilon (g\otimes m)=gm$ has the explicit $G$-linear sectionIt exhibits the promised direct summand and is the projectivity detected on a subgroup of invertible index construction.

An idempotent $e$ gives a projective module $Ae$, since $A=Ae\oplus A(1-e)$. It is primitive when it cannot be written as a sum of two nonzero orthogonal idempotents. This is equivalent to indecomposability of $Ae$: a projection onto a direct summand is an idempotent of ${\mathrm{End}}_A(Ae)\cong (eAe{)}^{\mathrm{op}}$, and conversely such an idempotent splits $Ae$. Starting with $1$, split any nonprimitive summand repeatedly. The process terminates because each splitting increases the number of nonzero vector-space summands in a finite-dimensional algebra. Thuswith orthogonal primitive idempotents and indecomposable projective modules. Each summand is generated by its idempotent.

Let $D={\mathrm{Hom}}_k(-,k)$. A Frobenius algebra is a finite-dimensional algebra with $A\cong D(A)$ as left modules over $A$, where $(a\varphi )(x)=\varphi (xa)$. Equivalently there is a linear functional $\lambda :A\to k$ for which $(x,y)\mapsto \lambda (xy)$ is nondegenerate. A symmetric algebra satisfies the stronger bimodule isomorphism $A\cong D(A)$, with $(a\varphi b)(x)=\varphi (bxa)$; equivalently the functional can be chosen with $\lambda (xy)=\lambda (yx)$. This is the associative-algebra meaning of symmetric, rather than the symmetric algebra of a vector space.

For a finite-dimensional module,The socle is its largest semisimple submodule, and the radical of a module gives its largest semisimple quotient. With $J=J(A)$ one has $\mathrm{Rad}M=JM$ and $\mathrm{Soc}M=\{m:Jm=0\}$: $A/J$ is semisimple, and $J$ annihilates every simple module.

Now let $P=Ae$ for a primitive idempotent, allowing the field $k$ to be nonsplit. Symmetry identifies $Ae$ with $D(eA)$ through the pairingIt is nondegenerate on these corners. If $v=ve\ne 0$, choose $a$ with $\lambda (av)\ne 0$; then $\lambda (eav)=\lambda (ave)=\lambda (av)\ne 0$. The other variable is treated similarly. The pairing respects the left $A$-action, soThe right-module quotient $eA/eAJ$ is simple. A primitive idempotent remains primitive modulo the nilpotent radical: idempotents lift through that radical, so a decomposition in the quotient would lift to one in $eAe$. In the semisimple algebra $A/J$, the left simple $Ae/JAe$ and the dual of the right simple $eA/eAJ$ belong to the same matrix block. There is exactly one left simple isomorphism class in that block, even over a nonalgebraically closed field. Hence the head-socle identity for a symmetric algebra isThis is an isomorphism of left modules, and need not be canonical.

For the modular examples put $r=(123)$, $s=(12)$, so $r^3=s^2=1$ and $srs=r^{-1}$. The coefficient-of-identity functional on the group algebra is symmetric and nondegenerate, so the identity just proved applies.

In characteristic two, the central idempotents are $b_0=1+r+r^2$ and $b_1=1-b_0$. The first block has basis $b_0,b_{0}s$ and is $k{C}_2\cong k[u]/(u^2)$. For the second, choose a primitive cube root $\omega$ and useThe two $r$-eigenlines are interchanged by $s$, proving irreducibility. Polynomial interpolation in $r$ gives diagonal matrix units, and multiplying by $s$ gives the off-diagonal units. Thus the four-dimensional block maps onto $M_2(k)$ and is isomorphic to it:There are two simple modules, the trivial one-dimensional module $T$ and the two-dimensional module $V$; the sign module equals $T$. Their projective covers are $P_T=k[u]/(u^2)$, with layers $T,T$, and $P_V=V$. The regular module is $P_T\oplus V^{\oplus 2}$, and the Cartan matrix of a group algebra is $\mathrm{diag}(2,1)$. Every module is a sum of $T,P_T,V$: the first block is classified by Jordan chains for a nilpotent linear map of lengths one and two, while the matrix block is semisimple. Thus there are exactly three indecomposable isomorphism classes. This describes the 2-modular blocks of S3.

In characteristic three put $u=r-1$. The ideal $I=uA$ satisfies $I^3=0$, and $A/I\cong k{C}_2\cong k\oplus k$, so $J(A)=I$. The only simples are the trivial and sign modules $S_{+},S_{-}$. Put $e_{\pm }=(1\pm s)/2$. The projectives $P_{\pm }=A{e}_{\pm }$ have dimension three. A convenient radical generator is $v=r-r^{-1}$:The basis $e_{\pm },v{e}_{\pm },v^2{e}_{\pm }$ gives the radical layersThus $A=P_{+}\oplus P_{-}$ and its Cartan matrix of a group algebra isThe elements $e_{-}v{e}_{+}$ and $e_{+}v{e}_{-}$ give one arrow in each direction between the two simples. All paths of length three vanish, and the six paths of lengths zero, one and two are linearly independent. Hence $A$ is the path algebra of that two-vertex oriented cycle modulo the ideal of paths of length three. Its connected quiver also proves there is a single block of S3 in characteristic three.

Any module is a $\mathbb{Z}/2$-graded vector space given by the $s$-eigenspaces, with $v$ interchanging the grades and $v^3=0$. Constructing Jordan chains with homogeneous bases in the kernel and image filtrations and homogeneous lifts decomposes it into graded chains. Each chain has length $1,2$ or $3$ and is determined by its top sign. It is a uniserial module and hence indecomposable. Consequently there are exactly six indecomposables, the length-$\ell$ quotients $P_{\pm }/J^{\ell }{P}_{\pm }$, $\ell =1,2,3$.

A partition of an integer $n$ is a finite sequence ${\lambda }_1\ge \cdots \ge {\lambda }_{\ell }>0$ with sum $n$; append zeros when comparing lengths. Its Young diagram has cells $(i,j)$ with $1\le j\le {\lambda }_i$. A Young tableau is a bijective filling of these cells by $1,\dots ,n$. Write $R_t,C_t$ for its row and column stabilizers, and fix the conventionPermutations act on entries on the left, with the rightmost factor acting first. This defines the Young symmetrizer used throughout. In the dictionary order on integer partitions, $\lambda >\mu$ means that at the first differing part ${\lambda }_i>{\mu }_i$; equality is allowed in $\ge$.

Suppose there is no row-column collision between $t$ of shape $\lambda$ and $u$ of shape $\mu$. Each column of $u$ contains at most one entry from each row of $t$. The first $k$ rows of $t$ therefore contain at mostentries, where ${\mu }_j^{\prime }$ is a column length. Thus ${\sum }_{i\le k}{\lambda }_i\le {\sum }_{i\le k}{\mu }_i$ for every $k$: $\mu$ dominates $\lambda$ in dominance order on partitions. If $\lambda \ge \mu$ in dictionary order on integer partitions, a first strictly larger part would contradict the corresponding prefix inequality. Hence $\lambda =\mu$.

All the bounds must now be equalities. Every column $j$ of $u$ contains exactly one entry from row $i$ of $t$ whenever $i\le {\lambda }_j^{\prime }$. Choose $r_0\in R_t$ sending that entry to the entry of $t$ in cell $(i,j)$. These prescriptions are bijections within the rows. The columns of $r_{0}u$ then have exactly the same sets of entries as the columns of $t$, so $r_{0}u=c_{0}t$ for some $c_0\in C_t$. ConsequentlyIf a collision was present instead, its two entries supply the first alternative. This proves the row-column collision lemma, including the prescribed order of the two stabilizer factors.

We next prove the Specht module classification. By Maschke's theorem, the group algebra $A=\mathbb{C}{S}_n$ is a semisimple algebra. Use the permitted basic quasi-idempotence of a Young symmetrizer,and put $e_t=h_t/H_{\lambda }$. The coefficient of $1$ in $h_t$ is one, because $R_t\cap C_t=\{1\}$, so $e_t\ne 0$.

For $\pi \in S_n$, consider $r_t\pi c_t$. A collision between the rows of $t$ and the columns of $\pi t$ gives a transposition $\tau \in R_t\cap \pi C_t{\pi }^{-1}$. Row symmetrization fixes $\tau$, whereas column antisymmetrization changes its sign, so $r_t\pi c_t=0$. If there is no collision, the proved lemma gives $\pi =rc$ with $r\in R_t,c\in C_t$, andIt follows that $h_t\pi h_t$ is zero or $\mathrm{sgn}(c)H_{\lambda }{h}_t$. Since permutations span $A$, $e_{t}A{e}_t=\mathbb{C}{e}_t$. In a semisimple algebra this means that $e_t$ is a primitive idempotent, so $A{e}_t=A{h}_t$ is an irreducible left module.

If $\lambda >\mu$ in dictionary order on integer partitions, the collision lemma applied to every $\pi u$ gives $r_{t}A{c}_u=0$, and therefore $h_{t}A{h}_u=0$. Sincethe two simple modules cannot be isomorphic. Conversely, Young tableaux of the same shape are related by a permutation, which conjugates their Young symmetrizers and gives isomorphic left ideals. Finally, the center of $\mathbb{C}{S}_n$ has the conjugacy-class sums as a basis. Conjugacy classes are indexed by cycle-type partitions, so its dimension is the number of partitions of $n$. The Artin–Wedderburn theorem gives exactly that many simple-module isomorphism classes. We have already produced one for each partition. Thus the $A{h}_{\lambda }$ form a complete set of pairwise nonisomorphic irreducible modules.

On $T=V^{\otimes n}$, define the permutation and diagonal actions byThe inverse in the first formula gives a left action. Applying $g$ to every tensor factor and then reordering produces the same tensor as reordering and then applying $g$. Thus the two actions commute. The Schur algebra isIt is the commutant of an operator algebra of the permutation action.

To identify this commutant, use the multilinear isomorphismConjugation by a permutation reorders the factors on the right. Therefore the invariant subspace is the space of symmetric tensors of degree $n$ in $\mathrm{End}(V)$. It is spanned by $a^{\otimes n}$. Indeed, the polarization identityexpresses every symmetrized elementary tensor as a linear combination of pure powers. Those symmetrized elementary tensors span the invariant subspace in characteristic zero.

One may restrict $a$ to invertible endomorphisms without changing the span. For fixed $a$, the vector-valued polynomial $(a+tI{)}^{\otimes n}$ has degree at most $n$. Choose $n+1$ distinct values of $t$ away from the finitely many roots of $\det (a+tI)$. Polynomial interpolation expresses its constant term $a^{\otimes n}$ as a linear combination of those invertible tensor powers. ConsequentlyThe span is an algebra, since products are $(gh{)}^{\otimes n}$.

The image $A_T$ of $\mathbb{C}{S}_n$ is semisimple, as a quotient of a semisimple algebra. The double-centralizer theorem for semisimple operator algebras gives $A_T^{\prime \prime }=A_T$. Since the preceding computation says that $A_T^{\prime }$ is the span of the general linear action, the two actions are mutual commutants. More explicitly, semisimple module decomposition givesHere $D_{\lambda }(V)={\mathrm{Hom}}_{S_n}(S^{\lambda },T)$ is the multiplicity space, with its natural general linear action. The commutant algebra is the product of the full endomorphism algebras of these multiplicity spaces. Hence each nonzero $D_{\lambda }$ is irreducible, and distinct spaces have nonisomorphic general linear representations, because the operators $g^{\otimes n}$ span that commutant. A primitive $e_t$ picks a one-dimensional factor from $S^{\lambda }$, so $e_{t}T$ is an equivalent realization of $D_{\lambda }$ as a Schur module.

The range of shapes is exact. If $\lambda$ has more than $m$ rows, a column antisymmetrizes more than $m$ vectors and its action vanishes by ${\Lambda }^{m+1}V=0$. Conversely, for at most $m$ rows place the $i$th basis vector in every tensor position belonging to row $i$ of $t$. Row symmetrization multiplies this tensor by ${\prod }_i{\lambda }_i!$. Column antisymmetrization is nonzero, because all vectors within each column are distinct, and its different permutations give distinct basis tensors. Thus $h_{t}T\ne 0$. This proves the length bound for a Schur module and the stated Schur–Weyl duality. For $n=0$, the empty partition and $V^{\otimes 0}=\mathbb{C}$ give the trivial version.

We take algebras to be unital and modules to be unital. A finite-dimensional semisimple algebra over the complex numbers is one whose regular left module is a semisimple module, that is, a direct sum of simple modules. We use the basic finite-dimensional equivalences: this is equivalent to a zero Jacobson radical, and the Jacobson radical of any finite-dimensional algebra is a nilpotent ideal.

The Artin–Wedderburn theorem here says that there are positive integers $d_1,\dots ,d_r$ withThe nonisomorphic simple modules are the standard column modules of the factors, of dimensions $d_i$, and the factor sizes are unique up to reordering.

Here is a proof. Decompose the regular left module as ${}_{A}A={⨁}_{i=1}^r{S}_i^{\oplus n_i}$ with pairwise nonisomorphic simple modules $S_i$. These are all the simple modules: any simple module is generated by a nonzero vector and is therefore a quotient of the regular module. The Schur lemma gives ${\mathrm{Hom}}_A(S_i,S_j)=0$ for $i\ne j$ and ${\mathrm{End}}_A(S_i)=\mathbb{C}$. For the latter assertion, an endomorphism has an eigenvalue over $\mathbb{C}$, and the kernel of its difference from that scalar is a nonzero submodule, hence the whole simple module. ConsequentlyEvery regular-module endomorphism is right multiplication by its value at $1$, so ${\mathrm{End}}_A({}_{A}A)\cong A^{\mathrm{op}}$. Taking opposite algebras and using matrix transposition gives the asserted decomposition with $d_i=n_i$.

For a matrix algebra $M_d(\mathbb{C})$, the matrix units show that its only simple module is ${\mathbb{C}}^d$: the spaces $E_{jj}S$ are isomorphic through $E_{ij}$, and a nonzero vector in one of them generates one copy of the column module. Simplicity makes that copy all of $S$. In a product algebra, the mutually orthogonal central idempotents decompose every module into its factor modules; a simple module uses exactly one factor. This proves the module assertion and also uniqueness, since the primitive central idempotents and the dimensions of their simple modules determine the factors.

The algebra must be finite-dimensional, and there is no universal bound on its dimension. Let $e=\epsilon m$ and write its coevaluation morphism as a finite sumFor any $v\in A$, one snake identity givesThus the finitely many $b_i$ span $A$, making it a finite-dimensional vector space. The other snake identity shows that $e$ is nondegenerate in the other variable as well, so the maps to the dual space determined by this pairing are isomorphisms. In the standard algebraic terminology this is a Frobenius algebra.

Every positive finite dimension of a vector space occurs: take $A=k^d$ with coordinatewise multiplication and $\epsilon (a_1,\dots ,a_d)={\sum }_i{a}_i$. The coordinate idempotents $e_i$ give $e(e_i,e_j)={\delta }_{ij}$ and $n(1)={\sum }_i{e}_i\otimes e_i$. If zero unital algebras are allowed, the zero object gives dimension zero too.

The pairing need not make $A$ a semisimple algebra. For example, the dual numbers $k[t]/(t^2)$ with $\epsilon (a+bt)=b$ have pairing matrixand coevaluation morphism $1\mapsto 1\otimes t+t\otimes 1$. This pairing is nondegenerate over every field, despite the nilpotent ideal $(t)$. Finite-dimensionality is the dimension conclusion; separability is not part of the given definition.

The projections $P_T$ in the Gelfand–Tsetlin algebra satisfyConsequently the map sending a diagonal element to its scalar on each Gelfand–Tsetlin basis vector is a ring isomorphismEach factor is a simple module over this algebra, and the algebra is their direct sum as a module over itself. This proves that $G{Z}_n$ is a semisimple algebra. The argument uses its explicit diagonal structure; being a subalgebra of a semisimple algebra by itself would not suffice.

Let $N={\sum }_{g\in G}g$ be the group norm element. This is a nonzero vector in the group algebra $kG$, and $kN$ is a trivial submodule of its left regular module. If $kG$ were a semisimple algebra, this submodule would have a $kG$-linear projection $\pi :kG\to kN$. Write $\pi (1)=cN$. Since $gN=N$ for every $g$, we would havewhereas a projection onto $kN$ satisfies $\pi (N)=N\ne 0$. Thus $\boxed{kG\text{ is not semisimple}}$.

For the preliminary definitions, a block is $Re$ for a primitive central idempotent $e$, and a module belongs to it when $eM=M$. For a semisimple algebra, the Artin–Wedderburn theorem identifies its blocks with the factors $M_{n_i}(D_i)$ in its product decomposition. Each factor is a block of a finite-dimensional algebra.

We prove Ext separation of finite-length modules. The extension hypothesis is ${\mathrm{Ext}}^1(S,T)={\mathrm{Ext}}^1(T,S)=0$ for simples in opposite sets. First, for a simple $S\in {\mathcal{C}}_1$ and a module $N$ of finite composition length with factors in ${\mathcal{C}}_2$, we have ${\mathrm{Ext}}^1(S,N)=0$. Induct on the length of $N$: for $0\to N^{\prime }\to N\to T\to 0$ with $T$ simple, the long exact sequence of the Ext functor containswhose outer groups are zero. The same argument works with the two sets interchanged.

Now induct on the length of $M$, with $M=0$ immediate. Take a simple quotient in $0\to N\to M\to S\to 0$. By induction, $N=N_1\oplus N_2$ with factors in the respective sets. Suppose $S\in {\mathcal{C}}_1$; the other case is symmetric. Quotienting by $N_1$ givesThis splits by the preceding Ext vanishing. Let $U_1$ be the inverse image in $M$ of the chosen complementary copy of $S$. Then $U_1\cap N_2=0$, $U_1+N_2=M$, and $0\to N_1\to U_1\to S\to 0$. Thus $U_1$ has only factors in ${\mathcal{C}}_1$, while $U_2=N_2$ has only factors in ${\mathcal{C}}_2$.

If two finite-length modules have factors in disjoint sets, any homomorphism between them is zero: a nonzero image would, by the Jordan–Hölder theorem, have a simple factor belonging to both sets. For any submodule $V$ of $M$ with factors in ${\mathcal{C}}_1$, projection onto $U_2$ is consequently zero, so $V\subset U_1$. The analogous argument applies to $U_2$. HenceIn particular both summands are preserved by every endomorphism of $M$.

An $A$-module is a semisimple module when it is a direct sum of simple modules, equivalently when every submodule has a complementary submodule. The finite-dimensional algebra $A$ is a semisimple algebra when its left regular module ${}_{A}A$ is semisimple.

Let $C_{p^n}=⟨g⟩$, put $N=p^n$, and suppose $\mathrm{char}k=p$. The freshman's dream givesso, with $u=g-1$,The indecomposable modules of a cyclic p-group in characteristic p are preciselyIndeed, a module is a vector space with a nilpotent operator $u$, and its decomposition into Nilpotent Jordan blocks gives these modules. Each $M_r$ is a uniserial module, with unique chainTherefore

For $1\le r\le n$, let $S_r=k$ with a lower triangular matrix $a=(a_{ij})$ acting by the scalar $a_{rr}$. These are pairwise nonisomorphic simple modules, since the diagonal matrix units $e_{ii}$ distinguish them.

Let $N$ be the ideal of strictly lower triangular matrices. It is nilpotent, andis a semisimple algebra. Hence $N$ is the Jacobson radical; explicitly,