Can You Find a Counterexample for This Module Over a Commutative Ring?

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The discussion centers on the properties of submodules within a commutative ring, specifically addressing the conditions under which two submodules, \(V\) and \(V'\), can be considered equal given that \(U \cap V = U \cap V'\) and \(U + V = U + V'\). The conclusion is that these conditions alone do not guarantee \(V = V'\). A counterexample is provided using the \(\mathbb{R}\)-module \(\mathbb{R}^3\), where \(U = \text{span}((0,1,0))\), \(V = \text{span}((1,0,0))\), and \(V' = \text{span}((1,1,0))\), demonstrating that \(V\) and \(V'\) can be distinct despite the stated conditions being satisfied.

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Siron
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Hi,

Let $A$ be a commutative ring, $M$ an $A-$module and $U,V,V'$ submodules of $M$ such that $U \cap V = U \cap V'$ and $U+V=U+V'$. Does it follow that $V=V'$?

The answer is no because the condition that $V \subset V'$ is necessary though I can't find a counterexample.

Does someone has a good counterexample for this wrong statement?

Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Siron
 
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By $U+V$, do you mean $\{u+v\mid u\in U,v\in V\}$?
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
By $U+V$, do you mean $\{u+v\mid u\in U,v\in V\}$?
Yes.
 
Then it's easy to get a counterexample by considering $\mathbb{R}^3$ as a module over $\mathbb{R}$.
 
Easy counter-example:

Let our parent $\Bbb R$-module be $\Bbb R^3$ as Evgeny suggests.

Take $U = \text{span}((0,1,0))$

$V = \text{span}((1,0,0))$

$V' = \text{span}((1,1,0))$.

It is clear that:

$U + V = U + V' = \Bbb R^2 \times \{0\}$ and:

$U \cap V = U \cap V' = \{(0,0,0)\}$

but $V \neq V'$.
 
Deveno said:
Easy counter-example:

Let our parent $\Bbb R$-module be $\Bbb R^3$ as Evgeny suggests.

Take $U = \text{span}((0,1,0))$

$V = \text{span}((1,0,0))$

$V' = \text{span}((1,1,0))$.

It is clear that:

$U + V = U + V' = \Bbb R^2 \times \{0\}$ and:

$U \cap V = U \cap V' = \{(0,0,0)\}$

but $V \neq V'$.

Thanks Deveno and Evgeny!
 

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