MHB Can Tensor Products Reveal Ring Isomorphisms?

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The discussion focuses on proving that the tensor product of the quotient rings $\Bbb Z/m\Bbb Z$ and $\Bbb Z/n\Bbb Z$ is isomorphic to $\Bbb Z/\text{gcd}(m,n)\Bbb Z$. Participants explore the properties of tensor products and their implications for ring isomorphisms. The problem remains unsolved by the community, prompting the original poster to share their own solution. The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding tensor products in the context of ring theory. Ultimately, the thread highlights the challenge of applying these concepts to specific mathematical problems.
Euge
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Here is my first problem!

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Show that $\Bbb Z/m\Bbb Z \otimes_{\Bbb Z} \Bbb Z/n\Bbb Z$ is isomorphic to $\Bbb Z/\text{gcd}(m,n)\Bbb Z$.

-------Remember to read the http://www.mathhelpboards.com/showthread.php?772-Problem-of-the-Week-%28POTW%29-Procedure-and-Guidelines to find out how to http://www.mathhelpboards.com/forms.php?do=form&fid=2!
 
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No one solved this week's problem. You can find my solution below.

Let $d = \text{gcd}(m, n)$. Then $d$ divides $m$ and $n$, so there is a well defined $\Bbb Z$-bilinear map $([x]_m, [y]_n) \mapsto [xy]_d$ from $\Bbb Z/m\Bbb Z \times \Bbb Z/nZ$ to $\Bbb Z/d\Bbb Z$. It induces a homomorphism $f : \Bbb Z/m\Bbb Z \otimes_{\Bbb Z} \Bbb Z/n\Bbb Z \to \Bbb Z/d\Bbb Z$ such that $f([x]_m \otimes [y]_n) = [xy]_d$. Consider the homomorphism $x \mapsto x([1]_m \otimes [1]_n)$ from $\Bbb Z$ to $\Bbb Z/m\Bbb Z \otimes_{\Bbb Z} \Bbb Z/n\Bbb Z$. Its kernel contains $d\Bbb Z$, since $d$ is a $\Bbb Z$-linear combination of $m$ and $n$, $[1]_m \otimes [m]_n = [m]_m \otimes [1]_n = 0$ and $[1]_m \otimes [n]_n = 0$. So it induces a homomorphism $g : \Bbb Z/d\Bbb Z \to \Bbb Z/m\Bbb Z \otimes_{\Bbb Z} \Bbb Z/n\Bbb Z$ such that $g([x]_d) = [1]_m \otimes [x]_n$. Now

$$fg([x]_d) = f([1]_m \otimes [x]_n)) = [x]_d$$

and

$$ gf([x]_m \otimes [y]_n) = g([xy]_d) = [1]_m \otimes [xy]_d = [x]_m \otimes [y]_n,$$

whence $f$ and $g$ are inverses of each other. Therefore $f$ is an isomorphism.