Free Modules With More Than One Basis - Bland - Example 5, page 56

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding free modules as presented in Paul E. Bland's book, particularly focusing on Example 5 in Section 2.2. Participants are exploring the notation and implications of the external direct sum $$M = \bigoplus_{\mathbb{N}} \mathbb{Z}$$ and the isomorphism $$M \cong M \bigoplus M$$. The scope includes theoretical aspects of module theory and the properties of bases in free modules.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion regarding the notation and meaning of $$M = \bigoplus_{\mathbb{N}} \mathbb{Z}$$, seeking clarification on its interpretation as an external direct sum.
  • There is a challenge regarding the understanding of how $$M \cong M \bigoplus M$$ is deduced, with requests for a demonstration of the isomorphism.
  • One participant corrects another's interpretation of the external direct sum, suggesting a more accurate representation involving conditions on the elements of the sum.
  • Another participant proposes a general fact about free modules, stating that if two free modules have bases of the same cardinality, they are isomorphic, and begins to outline a proof of this proposition.
  • There is a request for further explanation on constructing a specific isomorphism between $$M$$ and $$M \bigoplus M$$, including the need to show that the mapping is one-to-one and onto.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the interpretation of $$\bigoplus_{\mathbb{N}} \mathbb{Z}$$ as an external direct sum, but there is disagreement regarding the correct formulation of its elements. The discussion on the isomorphism remains unresolved, with multiple approaches and clarifications being proposed without consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations include the need for clarity on definitions and the assumptions underlying the properties of free modules. The discussion also highlights the complexity of demonstrating isomorphisms in module theory, which may depend on specific mappings and cardinality considerations.

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I am reading Paul E. Bland's book, "Rings and Their Modules".

I am trying to understand Section 2.2 on free modules and need help with Example 5 showing a module with two bases ... ...

Example 5 reads as follows:View attachment 3569I am having trouble understanding the notation and meaning of $$M = \bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$ ... ...

Further I am having considerable trouble seeing how/why $$M \cong M \bigoplus M$$ ... ...

Now I am taking $$\bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$ to be an external direct sum ... ...

Bland defines an external direct sum as follows:https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/3570So ... ... following the above definition (at least I think I am correctly following it ...) we have:

$$M = \bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$

$$= \mathbb{Z} \bigoplus \mathbb{Z} \bigoplus \mathbb{Z} \bigoplus \ \ ... \ ... \ ... \ \bigoplus \mathbb{Z} \ \ ... \ ... \ ... ( \mathbb{N} \text{ copies } )$$

$$= \{ (z_\alpha ) \in \prod_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}_i \text{ where } i \in \mathbb{N} \}$$

$$= ?$$Can someone please confirm my analysis so far ... as far as it goes, anyway ...

Can someone also please explain and clarify the meaning of $$\bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$, and further, demonstrate how Bland deduces that $$M \cong M \bigoplus M$$?

Needless to say, I do not follow the rest of the example ... ... so any help with that will also be appreciated ...

Peter
 
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Peter said:
I am reading Paul E. Bland's book, "Rings and Their Modules".

I am trying to understand Section 2.2 on free modules and need help with Example 5 showing a module with two bases ... ...

Example 5 reads as follows:View attachment 3569I am having trouble understanding the notation and meaning of $$M = \bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$ ... ...

Further I am having considerable trouble seeing how/why $$M \cong M \bigoplus M$$ ... ...

Now I am taking $$\bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$ to be an external direct sum ... ...

Bland defines an external direct sum as follows:https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/3570So ... ... following the above definition (at least I think I am correctly following it ...) we have:

$$M = \bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$

$$= \mathbb{Z} \bigoplus \mathbb{Z} \bigoplus \mathbb{Z} \bigoplus \ \ ... \ ... \ ... \ \bigoplus \mathbb{Z} \ \ ... \ ... \ ... ( \mathbb{N} \text{ copies } )$$

$$= \{ (z_\alpha ) \in \prod_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}_i \text{ where } i \in \mathbb{N} \}$$

$$= ?$$Can someone please confirm my analysis so far ... as far as it goes, anyway ...

Can someone also please explain and clarify the meaning of $$\bigoplus_{ \mathbb{N} } \mathbb{Z}$$, and further, demonstrate how Bland deduces that $$M \cong M \bigoplus M$$?

Needless to say, I do not follow the rest of the example ... ... so any help with that will also be appreciated ...

Peter
You are correct in interpretting $\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z$ as
$$\mathbf Z\oplus\mathbf Z\oplus\mathbf Z\oplus\cdots$$But you make a mistake when you write $$\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z=\{(z_\alpha)\in\prod_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z_i\text{ where } i\in \mathbf N \}$$What you ought to write is:$$\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z=\{(z_j)_{j\in \mathbf N}\in \prod_{i\in \mathbf N}\mathbf Z | \ z_j=0 \text{ for almost all } $j$\}$$As for showing that $M$ and $M\oplus M$ are isomorphic, where $M=\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z$, note that the bases of $M$ and $M\oplus M$ have the same cardinality.
 
caffeinemachine said:
You are correct in interpretting $\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z$ as
$$\mathbf Z\oplus\mathbf Z\oplus\mathbf Z\oplus\cdots$$But you make a mistake when you write $$\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z=\{(z_\alpha)\in\prod_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z_i\text{ where } i\in \mathbf N \}$$What you ought to write is:$$\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z=\{(z_j)_{j\in \mathbf N}\in \prod_{i\in \mathbf N}\mathbf Z | \ z_j=0 \text{ for almost all } $j$\}$$As for showing that $M$ and $M\oplus M$ are isomorphic, where $M=\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z$, note that the bases of $M$ and $M\oplus M$ have the same cardinality.

Thanks caffeinemachine,

Appreciate the help ... yes, see my error ... thanks ...

However, you write:

"As for showing that $M$ and $M\oplus M$ are isomorphic, where $M=\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z$, note that the bases of $M$ and $M\oplus M$ have the same cardinality"Can you explain further regarding demonstrating an isomorphism between $M$ and $M\oplus M$?

Can you, for example, indicate the one-to-one and onto function or mapping underlying the isomorphism?

Thanks again for the help ...

Peter
 
Peter said:
Thanks caffeinemachine,

Appreciate the help ... yes, see my error ... thanks ...

However, you write:

"As for showing that $M$ and $M\oplus M$ are isomorphic, where $M=\bigoplus_{\mathbf N}\mathbf Z$, note that the bases of $M$ and $M\oplus M$ have the same cardinality"Can you explain further regarding demonstrating an isomorphism between $M$ and $M\oplus M$?

Can you, for example, indicate the one-to-one and onto function or mapping underlying the isomorphism?

Thanks again for the help ...

Peter
We prove a a general fact that if $M$ and $N$ are free $R$-modules with bases $B$ and $C$ respectively such that the cardinality of $B$ and the cardinality of $C$ are the same, then $M\cong N$.

Proof:
Let $f:B\to C$ be a bijection and say $B=\{x_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in J}$.

Define $$\varphi\left(\sum_{\alpha\in J}x_\alpha r_\alpha\right)=\sum_{\alpha\in J} f(x_\alpha) r_\alpha$$

Can you show that $\varphi$ is an $R$-module isomorphism?
 
caffeinemachine said:
We prove a a general fact that if $M$ and $N$ are free $R$-modules with bases $B$ and $C$ respectively such that the cardinality of $B$ and the cardinality of $C$ are the same, then $M\cong N$.

Proof:
Let $f:B\to C$ be a bijection and say $B=\{x_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in J}$.

Define $$\varphi\left(\sum_{\alpha\in J}x_\alpha r_\alpha\right)=\sum_{\alpha\in J} f(x_\alpha) r_\alpha$$

Can you show that $\varphi$ is an $R$-module isomorphism?

Thanks caffeinemachine ...

OK, I will take up your suggestion and I will try to construct a proof of the following proposition ...

If

$$M,N$$ are free $$R$$-modules with bases $$B$$ and $$C$$ respectively such that the cardinality of $$B$$ equals the cardinality of $$C$$

then

$$M \cong N$$(***NOTE*** I cannot find this Theorem - are you able to give me a reference to it in some text?)
Now let $$f$$ be a bijection $$f \ : \ B \longrightarrow C$$ and let $$B = \{ x_\alpha \}_{ \alpha \in J }$$ and $$C = \{ y_\alpha \}_{ \alpha \in J }$$Define $$\phi \ : \ M \longrightarrow N$$ as follows:

$$ \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha r_\alpha ) = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) r_\alpha
$$Then ... we need to show that $$\phi \ : \ M \longrightarrow N$$ is an R-module homomorphism ...So, we need to show that

(a) $$\phi ( x + y ) = \phi ( x ) + \phi ( y ) \ \ \text{ for all } x,y \in M$$

and

(b) $$\phi ( x r ) = \phi ( x ) r \text{ for all } x \in M \text{ and for all } r \in R$$
Now, consider $$x, y \in M$$ such that

$$x = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha \ , \ y = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha \ \ \text{ where } \ a_\alpha , b_\alpha \in R$$Then

$$\phi ( x + y )$$$$= \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha + \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha )$$$$= \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha ( a_\alpha + b_\alpha) )$$$$= \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f (x_\alpha) ( a_\alpha + b_\alpha)
$$$$= \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f (x_\alpha) a_\alpha + \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f (x_\alpha) b_\alpha$$$$= \phi ( x ) + \phi ( y )$$and $$\phi ( x r )$$$$= \phi ( ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha ) r )$$$$= \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha (a_\alpha r ) )$$$$= ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) (a_\alpha r ) )
$$$$= ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) (a_\alpha ) r $$$$= \phi ( x ) r$$
Thus $$\phi $$ is an R-module homomorphism.
Now we need to show that $$\phi $$ is injective and surjective.Injectivity of $$\phi \ : \ M \longrightarrow N$$


We have to show that if $$\phi ( x ) = \phi ( y ) \text{ then } x = y $$.

That is we have to show that if

$$\phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha ) = \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha )$$

then

$$\sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha
$$
Now

$$\phi ( ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha ) = \phi ( ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha ) \Longrightarrow \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) a_\alpha = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) b_\alpha$$

Thus it must be that $$a_\alpha = b_\alpha $$

so

$$\sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha
$$

and so $$\phi $$ is injective.Surjectivity of $$\phi \ : M \ \longrightarrow N $$

We need to show that if $$w \in N \text{ then } \exists \ x \in M \text{ such that } \phi (x) = w $$

Let $$c = \{ y_\alpha \}_{ \alpha \in J }$$

then

$$w = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } y_\alpha c_\alpha \text{ where } c_\alpha \in R $$

Since $$f$$ is a bijection, for each $$y_\alpha$$ these is an $$x_\alpha$$ such that $$f ( x_\alpha ) = y_\alpha$$

So we can write

$$w = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f( x_\alpha ) c_\alpha $$

BUT ... ... then for

$$ x = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha c_\alpha \in M$$

we have

$$\phi (x) = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f( x_\alpha ) c_\alpha = w
$$

Thus $$\phi$$ is surjective ... ... which completes the proof ...Can you please confirm the above is correct and critique the proof ...

Such help would be much appreciated ... ...
 
Last edited:
Peter said:
Thanks caffeinemachine ...

OK, I will take up your suggestion and I will try to construct a proof of the following proposition ...

If

$$M,N$$ are free $$R$$-modules with bases $$B$$ and $$C$$ respectively such that the cardinality of $$B$$ equals the cardinality of $$C$$

then

$$M \cong N$$(***NOTE*** I cannot find this Theorem - are you able to give me a reference to it in some text?)
Now let $$f$$ be a bijection $$f \ : \ B \longrightarrow C$$ and let $$B = \{ x_\alpha \}_{ \alpha \in J }$$ and $$C = \{ y_\alpha \}_{ \alpha \in J }$$Define $$\phi \ : \ M \longrightarrow N$$ as follows:

$$ \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha r_\alpha ) = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) r_\alpha
$$Then ... we need to show that $$\phi \ : \ M \longrightarrow N$$ is an R-module homomorphism ...So, we need to show that

(a) $$\phi ( x + y ) = \phi ( x ) + \phi ( y ) \ \ \text{ for all } x,y \in M$$

and

(b) $$\phi ( x r ) = \phi ( x ) r \text{ for all } x \in M \text{ and for all } r \in R$$
Now, consider $$x, y \in M$$ such that

$$x = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha \ , \ y = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha \ \ \text{ where } \ a_\alpha , b_\alpha \in R$$Then

$$\phi ( x + y )$$$$= \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha + \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha )$$$$= \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha ( a_\alpha + b_\alpha) )$$$$= \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f (x_\alpha) ( a_\alpha + b_\alpha)
$$$$= \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f (x_\alpha) a_\alpha + \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f (x_\alpha) b_\alpha$$$$= \phi ( x ) + \phi ( y )$$and $$\phi ( x r )$$$$= \phi ( ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha ) r )$$$$= \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha (a_\alpha r ) )$$$$= ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) (a_\alpha r ) )
$$$$= ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) (a_\alpha ) r $$$$= \phi ( x ) r$$
Thus $$\phi $$ is an R-module homomorphism.
Now we need to show that $$\phi $$ is injective and surjective.Injectivity of $$\phi \ : \ M \longrightarrow N$$


We have to show that if $$\phi ( x ) = \phi ( y ) \text{ then } x = y $$.

That is we have to show that if

$$\phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha ) = \phi ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha )$$

then

$$\sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha
$$
Now

$$\phi ( ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha ) = \phi ( ( \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha ) \Longrightarrow \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) a_\alpha = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f(x_\alpha) b_\alpha$$

Thus it must be that $$a_\alpha = b_\alpha $$

so

$$\sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha a_\alpha = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha b_\alpha
$$

and so $$\phi $$ is injective.Surjectivity of $$\phi \ : M \ \longrightarrow N $$

We need to show that if $$w \in N \text{ then } \exists \ x \in M \text{ such that } \phi (x) = w $$

Let $$c = \{ y_\alpha \}_{ \alpha \in J }$$

then

$$w = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } y_\alpha c_\alpha \text{ where } c_\alpha \in R $$

Since $$f$$ is a bijection, for each $$y_\alpha$$ these is an $$x_\alpha$$ such that $$f ( x_\alpha ) = y_\alpha$$

So we can write

$$w = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f( x_\alpha ) c_\alpha $$

BUT ... ... then for

$$ x = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } x_\alpha c_\alpha \in M$$

we have

$$\phi (x) = \sum_{ \alpha \in J } f( x_\alpha ) c_\alpha = w
$$

Thus $$\phi$$ is surjective ... ... which completes the proof ...Can you please confirm the above is correct and critique the proof ...

Such help would be much appreciated ... ...
Your proof is perfectly fine.

I don't know of a book where this theorem is mentioned. It is a sort of obvious fact which book fail to mention. But I should mention that I am just a beginner at module theory and am not aware of a good book on the subject. At least the ones I've seen I didn't like.
 

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