Tor functor (${\mathrm{Tor}}_i^R(M,N)$)

The Tor functor is the homology of a tensor product of modules with a free resolution: ${\mathrm{Tor}}_i^R(M,N)=H_i(F_{\bullet }{\otimes }_{R}N)$ for a free resolution $F_{\bullet }$ of $M$. It measures the failure of tensoring to preserve exact sequences. For a commutative ring, one may resolve either argument; the double complex of the two resolutions proves that both computations agree.

For a non-zero-divisor $a\in A$, resolve $A/(a)$ by $0\to A\stackrel{a}{\to }A\to A/(a)\to 0$. Tensoring with $M$ gives the kernel and cokernel in the displayed formula; all higher Tor functors vanish. Resolving either argument gives the same homology by the two filtrations of the double complex of the two free resolutions. For $M=A/(a)$, both degrees zero and one equal $A/(a)$.

Start a free resolution of $A/I$ with $P_0=A$ and a free module $P_1$ surjecting onto $I$. The next differential presents the relations in $I$. Right exactness of the tensor product of modules identifies $\mathrm{coker}(P_2{\otimes }_{A}M\to P_1{\otimes }_{A}M)$ with $I{\otimes }_{A}M$. Taking degree-one homology then gives the displayed kernel formula. Hence vanishing for every ideal is equivalent to the flatness criterion using ideals.