Can the Diagram in the Article Be Interpreted as Commutative?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interpretation of a specific diagram from an article, focusing on whether it can be viewed as a commutative diagram in the context of mathematical objects and mappings. The scope includes theoretical considerations related to algebra and linear transformations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that they are accustomed to commutative diagrams where vertices represent mathematical objects and edges represent mappings, questioning if the diagram in the article fits this model.
  • Another participant clarifies that all arrows in the diagram, both vertical and horizontal, represent mappings from element to element, citing the LaTeX code \mapsto as indicative of this.
  • A third participant proposes an interpretation of the vertical arrow on the left as representing an isomorphism that maps a vector space to a direct sum of quotient modules, suggesting a relationship between elements in the direct sum and vectors in the vector space.
  • Another participant points out a visual aspect of the diagram, noting that the arrows have little tails that are perpendicular to the arrow, which may provide additional insight into their interpretation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing interpretations of the diagram, with no consensus reached on whether it can be definitively classified as a commutative diagram. Multiple viewpoints remain regarding the nature of the mappings and the structure of the diagram.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the implications of the vertical arrows or the nature of the isomorphism mentioned, leaving some assumptions and definitions open to interpretation.

Stephen Tashi
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TL;DR
Does the given example of commutative diagram use conventional notation?
I'm used to seeing commutative diagrams where the vertices are mathematical objects and the edges (arrows) are mappings between them. Can the diagram ( from the interesting article https://people.reed.edu/~jerry/332/25jordan.pdf ) in the attached photo be interpreted that way?

In the article:

##k[x]## is the ring of polynomials over a field k.

##V## is a vector space.

##T## is a linear transformation on ##V##

CommDiagScreenshot.jpg


I understand ##T## and ##X## as maps, but do the vertical arrows go from a map to the argument of a map?
 
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The arrows (all of them, vertical and horizontal) go from element to element. Their LaTeX code is \mapsto.
 
I'll understand the vertical arrow on the left this way: There is an (unnamed) isomorphism mapping ##V## to a direct sum of quotient modules. So ##g(x) + <f_i(X)>## is one element of that direct sum and it is in the coset of the ##<f_i(X)>##. So the unnamed isomorphism maps an element of the direct sum to a vector ##v## in ##V##.
 
the visual clue to what fresh and Stephen are saying is that the arrows have little tails at the beginning which are perpendicular to the arrow.
 
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