MHB Direct Products and Sums of Modules - Notation - 2nd Post

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The discussion centers on understanding the notation used in John Dauns' book "Modules and Rings," specifically regarding direct products and sums of modules. The user is trying to grasp the functions α and β that map an index set I to the union of modules, ensuring each function's output belongs to the corresponding module. They illustrate this with a simple example using three right R-modules, A, B, and C, indexed by I = {1, 2, 3}. Clarification is sought on how these functions are defined and their relationship to the operations on the direct product of the modules. The conclusion confirms the user's understanding of the functions and their operations is accurate.
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I am reading John Dauns book "Modules and Rings". I am having problems understanding the notation of Section 1-2 Direct Products and Sums (pages 5-6) - see attachment).

In section 1-2.1 Dauns writes:

================================================== ======

"1-2.1 For any arbitrary family of modules
png.latex
indexed by an arbitrary index set,

the product
png.latex
is defined by the set of all functions

png.latex
such that
png.latex
for all i which becomes an

R-Module under pointwise operations,
png.latex
and

png.latex
"

================================================== ======

I have tried a simple example in rder to understand Dauns notation.

Consider a family of right R-Modules A, B, and C

Let I be an index set I = {1,2,3} so that $$ M_1 = A, M_2 = B, M_3 = C $$

Then we have

$$ \Pi M_i = M_1 \times M_2 \times M_3 = A \times B \times C $$

My problem now is to understand (exactly) the set of functions

$$ \alpha, \beta : I \rightarrow \cup \{ M_i | i \in I \}$$ such that $$ \alpha (i) \in M_i $$ for all i

where I am assuming that $$ \cup \{ M_i | i \in I \} = M_1 \cup M_2 \cup M_3 $$

So my problem here is what precisely are the functions $$ \alpha , \beta $$ in this example.

Can someone please help and clarify this matter?

====================================Note: Since the operations in $$ A \times B \times C $$ would, i imagine be as follows:

$$ (a_1, b_1, c_1) + (a_2, b_2, c_2) = (a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2) $$

and

$$ (a_1, b_1, c_1)r = (a_1r, b_1r, c_1r)$$ for $$ r \in R $$

one would imagine that $$ \alpha (1) = a_1 , \alpha (2) = b_1 , \alpha (3) = c_1 $$

and $$ \beta (1) = a_2 , \beta (2) = b_2 , \beta (3) = c_2 $$

Can someone confirm this?

Mind you I am guessing and cannot see why this follows from $$ \alpha, \beta : I \rightarrow \cup \{ M_i | i \in I \}$$ such that $$ \alpha (i) \in M_i $$ for all i
 
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Peter said:
Consider a family of right R-Modules A, B, and C

Let I be an index set I = {1,2,3} so that $$ M_1 = A, M_2 = B, M_3 = C $$

Then we have

$$ \Pi M_i = M_1 \times M_2 \times M_3 = A \times B \times C $$

My problem now is to understand (exactly) the set of functions

$$ \alpha, \beta : I \rightarrow \cup \{ M_i | i \in I \}$$ such that $$ \alpha (i) \in M_i $$ for all i

where I am assuming that $$ \cup \{ M_i | i \in I \} = M_1 \cup M_2 \cup M_3 $$

So my problem here is what precisely are the functions $$ \alpha , \beta $$ in this example.

Can someone please help and clarify this matter?
Well, you described $\alpha$ and $\beta$. There are two ways to look at them, which are isomorphic. The easiest is to see $\alpha$ as an ordered triple $(\alpha_i,\alpha_2,\alpha_3)$ where $\alpha_i\in M_i$ for $i=1,2,3$. Now, if instead of $\alpha_i$ we write $\alpha(i)$, this shows the second way: $\alpha$ is a single function from $\{1,2,3\}$ such that $\alpha(i)\in M_i$ for $i=1,2,3$. Do you see that $$ \alpha: I \rightarrow \cup \{ M_i\mid i \in I \}$$ such that $$ \alpha (i) \in M_i $$ for all $i$?

Peter said:
Note: Since the operations in $$ A \times B \times C $$ would, i imagine be as follows:

$$ (a_1, b_1, c_1) + (a_2, b_2, c_2) = (a_1 + a_2, b_1 + b_2, c_1 + c_2) $$

and

$$ (a_1, b_1, c_1)r = (a_1r, b_1r, c_1r)$$ for $$ r \in R $$

one would imagine that $$ \alpha (1) = a_1 , \alpha (2) = b_1 , \alpha (3) = c_1 $$

and $$ \beta (1) = a_2 , \beta (2) = b_2 , \beta (3) = c_2 $$

Can someone confirm this?
Yes, your understanding of the structure of $\alpha$ and $\beta$ and operations on them is correct.
 
Thank you for your help and guidance, Evgeny

Peter
 

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