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The subspace filtration and quotient filtration in a short exact sequence are good when the associated graded algebra is Noetherian. Their cumulative Hilbert functions add in every degree. Positive leading coefficients make the degree of the sum the larger degree; when both degrees agree, factorial times the leading coefficients add. Thus equal-dimensional nonzero factors consume positive multiplicity of a filtered module. With a standard graded algebra normalization these multiplicities are integral.

For a good filtration of a module over a fixed finite-dimensional filtration of a ring whose associated graded algebra is commutative and finitely generated, the cumulative Hilbert function is eventually a quasipolynomial by the Hilbert-Serre theorem. Its leading asymptotic degree is the dimension of the nonzero filtered module. Monotonicity forces the leading coefficients in its residue classes to agree. If the associated graded algebra is a standard graded algebra, the Hilbert function is eventually polynomial. Two good module filtrations bound one another after fixed shifts, so they have the same growth degree. Set $d(0)=-\infty$. For the Bernstein filtration this is the Bernstein growth dimension of a Weyl algebra module.

Let a commutative $k$-algebra $R$ be generated by $x_1,\dots ,x_n$, and let $R_j$ be the span of words of total degree at most $j$ in those generators. The associated graded ring of this filtration is a standard graded algebra, andThe Hilbert-Serre theorem therefore makes ${\dim }_k{R}_j$ eventually a polynomial in $j$. Its degree is $\dim R$; this follows by applying the Rees-ring deformation, whose special fibers are $R$ and the associated graded ring, so they have the same Krull dimension.

Every nonzero subquotient of a holonomic Weyl algebra module over a characteristic-zero field has dimension $n$, by Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules and dimension and multiplicity in a filtered exact sequence. Each strict step in a submodule chain consumes positive multiplicity of a filtered module. With a standard graded algebra normalization these multiplicities are integral. There are therefore at most $m(M)$ strict steps. The module is Artinian and Noetherian, and its module length is bounded by that multiplicity.

With the fixed algebra-filtration convention in dimension of a filtered module, the multiplicity is factorial times the common leading coefficient of the cumulative Hilbert function for $M\ne 0$, and is zero for $M=0$. It is a positive integer with a standard graded algebra normalization, and can be a positive rational number for a weighted grading. Fixed shifts between good filtrations of a module preserve its leading Hilbert coefficient. Rescaling the algebra filtration itself can change multiplicity, so its normalization must be specified.

Fix a finite-dimensional nonnegative filtration of a ring giving $R$ its almost commutative algebra structure, and choose a good filtration of a module on $M$. When $\mathrm{gr}R$ is a standard graded algebra, the Hilbert-Serre theorem makes the cumulative Hilbert function $h_M(j)={\dim }_k{F}_{j}M$ eventually a polynomial. For $M\ne 0$, define the dimension of a filtered module and multiplicity of a filtered module byUse $d(0)=-\infty$ and $m(0)=0$. With positive weighted generators instead of a standard grading, the cumulative Hilbert function is eventually a quasipolynomial with a common positive leading coefficient across residue classes. Equivalently, $h_M(j)=c{j}^d+O(j^{d-1})$, and the definitions are $d(M)=d$ and $m(M)=d!c$. The common leading coefficient follows from monotonicity: interlacing consecutive residue classes forces their leading coefficients to agree. For a standard grading, multiplicity is a positive integer, since an integer-valued polynomial has an integral expansion in the binomial polynomials; weighted normalization can instead give a positive rational number.

Two good filtrations of a module for this fixed algebra filtration bound each other after fixed index shifts. The corresponding Hilbert functions therefore satisfy $h_F(j-a)\le h_G(j)\le h_F(j+b)$ for fixed $a,b$. Comparing their leading growth shows that the degree and leading coefficient agree. Thus $d(M)$ and $m(M)$ are independent of the module filtration; the fixed algebra filtration is part of the multiplicity convention.

For a submodule $N$, use its subspace filtration and the quotient filtration on $M/N$. These are good because $\mathrm{gr}R$ is Noetherian. The short exact sequence of filtered pieces givesNonzero leading coefficients are positive, soIf $d(N)=d(M/N)$, those leading coefficients add andThis is dimension and multiplicity in a filtered exact sequence.

For the Weyl algebra $A_n(k)$ in characteristic zero, Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules asserts $d(M)\ge n$ for every nonzero finitely generated module $M$. Write its generators as $x_i,D_i$, with $[D_i,x_j]={\delta }_{ij}$ and all other generator commutators zero. The ordered monomials $x^{\alpha }{D}^{\beta }$ give the Bernstein filtrationTake a finite-dimensional generating subspace $V\ne 0$ of $M$ and put $M_j=A_{j}V$.

To prove faithful finite-step action of a Weyl algebra, consider $0\ne a\in A_j$ and choose a nonzero coefficient $c_{\alpha \beta }$ of a monomial of maximal total degree $d\le j$. Applying ${\prod }_i(\mathrm{ad}{D}_i{)}^{{\alpha }_i}(\mathrm{ad}{x}_i{)}^{{\beta }_i}$ to $a$ givesIndeed, these commutators differentiate the ordered coefficients: lower-degree monomials vanish, and another degree-$d$ monomial can survive only if all its exponents dominate $(\alpha ,\beta )$, which forces equality. This is scalar extraction by iterated Weyl commutators.

Expanding these iterated commutators writes $\lambda ={\sum }_{\ell }{u}_{\ell }a{v}_{\ell }$ with $u_{\ell },v_{\ell }\in A_j$. If $a$ annihilated $M_j$, every summand would annihilate $V$, contrary to $\lambda V\ne 0$. Therefore the action map is injective:Taking dimensions and comparing polynomial degrees giveswhich proves Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules. The polynomial representation $k[x_1,\dots ,x_n]$ has dimension $n$, so the bound is sharp.

The associated graded ring of the Weyl algebra is a polynomial ring, so ascending filtered-graded transfer of Noetherianity makes $A_n(k)$ a left Noetherian ring. Thus every submodule of a finitely generated module is finitely generated. If $d(M)=n$, every nonzero subquotient has dimension at most $n$ by the exact-sequence formula, and at least $n$ by Bernstein inequality for Weyl algebra modules. Every such subquotient therefore has dimension $n$ and positive integral multiplicity.

In a strictly descending chain $M=M_0⊋M_1⊋\cdots$, each nonzero quotient $M_i/M_{i+1}$ consumes at least one unit of multiplicity, by dimension and multiplicity in a filtered exact sequence. Hence there are at most $m(M)$ strict steps. This proves the descending chain condition, so $M$ is Artinian. In fact this holonomic Weyl algebra module has module length at most $m(M)$, as in multiplicity bounds the length of a holonomic Weyl module.

Choose a finite-dimensional generating vector subspace $V\subseteq A$ containing $1$, and write $V^n$ for the linear span of products of $n$ elements of $V$. The Gelfand–Kirillov dimension isFor a nonzero finitely generated module $M$ considered as a right module, choose a finite-dimensional generating vector subspace $W\subseteq M$ and define the Gelfand–Kirillov dimension of a module byFor left modules, replace $W{V}^n$ by $V^{n}W$. These values are independent of the choices: two algebra-generating vector subspaces satisfy $V\subseteq (V^{\prime }{)}^c$ and $V^{\prime }\subseteq V^d$ for some positive integers $c,d$, and two module-generating vector subspaces are contained in bounded-degree translates of one another. The corresponding growth bounds differ only by a constant rescaling and shift of $n$, which do not change the limit superior.

Let $S$ be a nonzero standard graded algebra, generated by $r$ elements of degree one. It is a homogeneous quotient ring of the polynomial ring $k[z_1,\dots ,z_r]$. By the Hilbert-Serre theorem, its Hilbert series is a rational function whose only possible pole is at $t=1$. After canceling, write it as $P(t)/(1-t{)}^d$ with $P(1)\ne 0$, where $0\le d\le r$. The cumulative dimensions are the coefficients of $P(t)/(1-t{)}^{d+1}$ and are eventually a polynomial in $n$ of degree $d$, with positive leading coefficient. With $V=S_0\oplus S_1$, these cumulative dimensions equal $\dim V^n$. ConsequentlyFor $d=0$ the algebra is finite-dimensional and nonzero, so the cumulative dimension is eventually a positive constant. If the zero algebra is allowed, the common convention $\mathrm{GKdim}0=-\infty$ is an exception to the printed assertion; the integer conclusion concerns nonzero unital algebras.

For the Weyl algebra $A=A_1(k)=k⟨X,D⟩/(DX-XD-1)$, the total-degree filtered algebra structure has associated graded ring $\mathrm{gr}A=k[x,\xi ]$. Its ordered monomials $X^i{D}^j$ form a basis. Every finitely generated module has a good filtration of a module, and its associated graded module is finitely generated over $k[x,\xi ]$. The Hilbert-Serre theorem therefore shows that its Gelfand–Kirillov dimension is an integer in $\{0,1,2\}$.

A nonzero module of Gelfand–Kirillov dimension zero here would have eventually constant cumulative dimension, hence be finite-dimensional. This is impossible in characteristic zero: taking the trace of the endomorphisms representing $DX-XD=1$ gives $0={\dim }_{k}M$. For right modules the right-action operators reverse composition and give the negative identity instead, with the same contradiction. ThusBoth occur. The regular module $A$ has $\dim V^n=\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n+2}{2}\right)$, hence Gelfand–Kirillov dimension two. For a right module of Gelfand–Kirillov dimension one, take $M=k[x]$ with $f\cdot X=xf$ and $f\cdot D=-f^{\prime }$. These actions satisfy the defining relation because $(f\cdot D)\cdot X-(f\cdot X)\cdot D=f$. The module is a cyclic module generated by $1$, and $\dim (1\cdot V^n)=n+1$. This also gives the lower bound for this particular Weyl algebra without invoking a general inequality for higher Weyl algebras.

Choose homogeneous algebra generators $x_1,\dots ,x_r$ of positive degrees $d_1,\dots ,d_r$ for $S$; they exist because $S$ is Noetherian. For a finitely generated graded module $V={⨁}_j{V}_j$, its Poincare series of a graded module isThe Hilbert-Serre theorem states thatfor a Laurent polynomial $Q(t)\in \mathbb{Z}[t,t^{-1}]$.

We prove this by induction on $r$. For $r=0$, $S=k$ and $V$ is finite-dimensional, so its series is a Laurent polynomial. For $x=x_r$ of degree $d=d_r$, multiplication gives the exact sequence of graded modulesAdditivity of the Hilbert series yieldsBoth modules on the right are finitely generated over $k[x_1,\dots ,x_{r-1}]$, so the induction hypothesis proves the formula.

For the finitely generated commutative algebra $R$, let $R_j$ be the stated degree filtration. Its associated graded ringis a standard graded algebra generated by the initial forms of $x_1,\dots ,x_n$. SinceHilbert–Serre shows that the quantity ${\dim }_k{R}_j$ agrees with a polynomial for all sufficiently large $j$. The growth of a finitely generated commutative algebra has polynomial degree $\dim R$, independently of the chosen finite generating set.

Forwith the four displayed generators, a basis of $R_j$ consists of the Laurent monomials $Y_1^a{Y}_2^b$ satisfying $|a|+|b|\le j$. There are $4r$ points with $|a|+|b|=r>0$, and one point at the origin. Hence the growth of the two-variable Laurent polynomial algebra is

A monomial of weighted degree $n$ is $x^{n-2j}{y}^j$ with $0\le j\le \lfloor n/2\rfloor$. ThereforeThis is a quasipolynomial of period two, not eventually one polynomial: it equals $n/2+1$ for even $n$ and $(n+1)/2$ for odd $n$. The usual eventual-polynomial theorem for a graded algebra assumes a standard graded algebra, generated in degree one. Here the generator $y$ has degree two, so there is no contradiction.

A sufficient condition is that $A$ be a standard graded algebra: it is generated as a $k$-algebra by finitely many elements of degree one. The Hilbert-Serre theorem then makes $P_A(t)$ a rational function whose denominator, after cancellation, is a power of $1-t$. When the eventual Hilbert polynomial is nonzero,where the right side uses the order of the pole at $t=1$.