All Questions
6,055 questions
1
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2
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Real solutions to underdetermined system of polynomial equations
I have the system of multi-variable polynomial (quadratic) equations with real coefficients. The number of equations is given scales as $K$ and the number of unknowns goes as $K^2$. So for for large $...
- 13
14
votes
4
answers
6k
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When is an algebra of commuting matrices (contained in one) generated by a single matrix?
Let C be an nxn matrix, then the polynomials in C (with appropriate coefficients) form an algebra of commuting matrices. I feel that I should know if the converse is true but I do not. So my first ...
- 30.1k
3
votes
1
answer
394
views
Residual finiteness of groups versus residual finiteness of semigroups
A group $G$ is residually finite if, for any two elements $g$ and $g^\prime$ in $G$, there is a finite group $G^\prime$ and a (group) homomorphism $f: G \rightarrow G^\prime$ such that $f(g)$ doesn't ...
- 155
2
votes
1
answer
980
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Spectral sequence for Ext
Why is $H^p(X, \mathcal{E}xt^q(F, I))=0$ for $p>0$ and $I$ an injective sheaf and $F$ an arbitrary sheaf? I'm trying to check the hypothesis in the grothendieck spectral sequence applied to the ...
- 23
7
votes
2
answers
542
views
Does every nontrivial sheaf of rings have a maximal ideal?
Let $R$ be a sheaf of rings on a topological space $X$. Assume $R \neq 0$. Does then $R$ have a maximal ideal? So this is a spacified analogon of the theorem, that every nontrivial ring has a maximal ...
- 63.1k
5
votes
2
answers
689
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Irreducible components of quotients of Cohen-Macaulay rings of the "correct" dimension
Suppose $R$ is a Cohen-Macaulay ring. It is well known that if $I$ is an ideal of $R$ generated by $n$ elements, and $I$ has codimension $n$, then $R/I$ is also Cohen-Macaulay.
Now suppose that $I$ ...
- 3,093
43
votes
5
answers
3k
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Explicit elements of $K((x))((y)) \setminus K((x,y))$
In an answer to the popular question on common false beliefs in mathematics
Examples of common false beliefs in mathematics
I mentioned that many people conflate the two different kinds of formal ...
- 65.4k
5
votes
1
answer
378
views
Representations of products of groups (and monoids)
I have very little knowledge of representation theory, but the following has come up in my summer undergrad research project (relates to conformal field theory and geometric function theory).
Suppose ...
- 51
9
votes
1
answer
792
views
Reconstructing a polynomial from resultants
I am trying to compute a monic polynomial $f(x)$ with integer coefficients and known degree $d$. I am given $n$ pairwise coprime polynomials $g_1(x),\ldots,g_n(x)$, also with integer coefficients, ...
3
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2
answers
2k
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Extension problem
As I understand, if $0\rightarrow A\rightarrow X\rightarrow B\rightarrow 0$ is a short exact sequence of abelian groups, $\mbox{Ext }_{\mathbb{Z}}^{1}(B,A)$ gives all the isomorphism classes of what ...
- 2,857
2
votes
2
answers
420
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Homological dimensions of module
$(A,\mathfrak{m})$ a Noetherian local ring, $M\neq 0$ a finitely generated $A$-module. As I understand, $\mbox{Ext }^{j}(A/\mathfrak{m}, M) = 0$ for $j<\mbox{depth }(M)$ and for $j>\mbox{inj. ...
- 2,857
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Ideals in the ring of single-variable Laurent polynomials with integer coefficients
I'm writing some software to automatically compute things like Alexander modules, Alexander ideals, Milnor signatures and Farber-Levine pairings for 1 and 2-knot complements. So among other things I'...
- 44.4k
14
votes
3
answers
2k
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Intuition for Model Theoretic Proof of the Nullstellensatz
I recently read the model-theoretic proof of the Nullstellensatz using quantifier elimination (see www.msri.org/publications/books/Book39/files/marker.pdf). I'm convinced that the Nullstellensatz is ...
- 15.4k
4
votes
2
answers
2k
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Existence of a minimal generating set of a module
Does a module (over a commutative ring) always possess a minimal generating set? When the module is not finitely generated, the typical Zorn's lemma type argument doesn't seem to work. More precisely, ...
- 2,857
36
votes
4
answers
12k
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Flatness and local freeness
The following statement is well-known:
Let $A$ be a commutative Noetherian ring and $M$ a finitely generated $A$-module. Then $M$ is flat if and only if $M_{\mathfrak{p}}$ is a free $A_{\mathfrak{p}}$-...
- 2,857
4
votes
2
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2k
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Non-finite version of Nakayama's lemma?
Let $A$ be a local ring with nilpotent maximal ideal $\mathfrak{m}$ (i.e., some power of $\mathfrak{m}$ vanishes), and $M$ an $A$-module (not necessarily finitely generated). Let $\bar{S}\subset M/\...
- 2,857
12
votes
2
answers
3k
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Is tensor product of local algebras local?
In general, the tensor product of two local rings is not local. For example, $\mathbb{C} \otimes_{\mathbb{R}} \mathbb{C}\ $ is not a local ring.
Let $\mathbb{F}_{p}$ denote the finite field with $p$ ...
- 592
13
votes
3
answers
3k
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Zero divisor conjecture and idempotent conjecture
Let $G$ be a torsion-free group and $C$ the ring of complex numbers. The zero divisor (idempotent, resp.) conjecture is that there is no nontrivial zerodivisor (idempotent, resp.) in $CG$.
The wiki ...
- 1,373
16
votes
4
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3k
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Cardinal of maximal linearly independent subsets of a free module
Is it true that the cardinality of every maximal linearly independent subset of a finitely generated free module $A^{n}$ is equal to $n$ (not just at most $n$, but in fact $n$)? Here $A$ is a nonzero ...
- 2,857
2
votes
0
answers
797
views
How can I prove R[x] is integrally closed iff R is integrally closed ? (R: integral domain) [closed]
$R$ is a integral domain. How can I prove $R[x]$ is integrally closed iff $R$ is integrally closed?
- 43
6
votes
3
answers
3k
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Tor and projective dimension
Is it possible that $\mbox{Tor }^{r+1}(M,N)=0 \ \ \forall N$ yet $\mbox{proj. dim }M>r$?
What I do know is that if $(A,\mathfrak{m})$ is Noetherian local and $M$ is finitely generated over $A$ ...
- 2,857
1
vote
4
answers
2k
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Reduced rings, idempotents and their prime spectrum
Let $B$ be a commutative unitary reduced ring and let $A$ be a subring of it. Let $e$ be an idempotent of $B$. Then we have a natural surjective ring homomorphism $A\rightarrow Ae$ defined by $a\...
- 2,275
4
votes
0
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179
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Global dimensions of orders over non-Gorenstein centers
This question concerns the following Lemma 4.2 in this paper by Van den Bergh:
Lemma: Let $R$ be local, normal Gorenstein ring of dimension $d$. Suppose $M$ is a reflexive $R$ module such that $A=\...
- 30.5k
15
votes
1
answer
1k
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Countable Hom/Ext implies finitely generated
Today I learned this interesting fact from Jerry Kaminker: If $A$ is an abelian group such that $\mathrm{Hom}(A,\mathbb{Z})$ and $\mathrm{Ext}(A,\mathbb{Z})$ are both countably generated, then in fact ...
- 56.6k
3
votes
2
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571
views
What is the relation between the number syntactic congruence classes, and the number of Nerode relation classes?
For a monoid $M$ and a subset $S$ of $M$, define the syntactic congruence $\equiv_S$ of $S$ as the least congruence on $M$ that saturates $S$, i.e. :
$$u \equiv_S v \Leftrightarrow (\forall x, y)[xuy \...
- 786
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2
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2k
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Is there a non-projective flat module over a local ring?
Is there a non-projective flat module over a local ring?
Here I assume the ring is commutative with unit.
- 2,857
14
votes
0
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899
views
Frobenius upper shriek/flat of a dualizing complex
Let $X$ be a separated connected scheme of characteristic $p > 0$. I am going to assume that $F : X \to X$ (the absolute Frobenius) is a finite map. This condition is called being $F$-finite.
...
48
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Are there more Nullstellensätze?
Over which fields $k$ is there a reasonable analogue of Hilbert's Nullstellensatz?
Here is a more precise formulation: let $k$ be an arbitrary field, $n$ a positive integer, and $R = k[t_1,..,t_n]$. ...
- 65.4k
9
votes
3
answers
1k
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Vector spaces with natural bases
Sergeib's question asks about vector spaces without a natural basis.
Actually, I would claim (apparently in accord with many comments and answers to Sergeib's question ) that this is the default ...
4
votes
2
answers
883
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Group & modules of arbitrary cardinality [closed]
How do I see that there is a group of an arbitrary cardinality? Is this also true for abelian groups? Also, given a commutative ring $R\neq 0$ how do I see that there is an $R$-module of arbitrary ...
- 2,857
13
votes
0
answers
496
views
Are the supports of $Ext^i(M,N)$ eventually periodic?
Let $R$ be a Noetherian, commutative ring and $M,N$ be finitely generated $R$-modules.
Question: Do the sets of minimal primes of $\text{Ext}^i_R(M,N)$ (for a fixed pair of $M,N$) become periodic ...
- 30.5k
2
votes
1
answer
918
views
Is a formally smooth morphism a filtered inductive limit of smooth algebras?
Given a unital commutative ring $A$ (not necessarily noetherian) and a formally smooth morphism of rings $f:A \to B$, where $B$ is not necessarily noetherian, is (or when is) $B$ a filtered inductive ...
4
votes
1
answer
405
views
Vocabulary on monoid periodicity
I'm learning about periodic languages, and I'm confused over the vocabulary used to describe the periodicity of (syntactic) monoids.
If I understand correctly, a monoid M is periodic if :
$$(\forall ...
- 786
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
For which rings does there exist an invertible Vandermonde matrix?
Suppose $R$ is a commutative ring, and $S \subset R^{n\times n}$ is an $R$-module. We are given $H_0,\dots,H_n \in R^{n\times n}$, and we know that for all $r \in R$,
$$H_0 + r H_1 + \dots r^n H_n \in ...
- 427
1
vote
0
answers
534
views
Integral element in the quotient of a polynomial ring
Hello,
I'm writting a "report" (to learn) on algebraic geometry, and was looking to write a proof for the following statement :
Theorem : Let $K$ be an algebraically closed field and $C_1, C_2 \...
- 11
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
The associated prime ideals of $Ext^i_R(M,N)$
If R is a commutative noetherian ring, M and N are modules with M finite. It is well known in commutative algebra that $AssHom_R(M,N)=Supp(M)\cap Ass(N)$. But I want to know whether there is a ...
- 1,207
28
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Expressing $-\operatorname{adj}(A)$ as a polynomial in $A$?
Suppose $A\in R^{n\times n}$, where $R$ is a commutative ring. Let $p_i \in R$ be the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of $A$: $\operatorname{det}(A-xI) = p_0 + p_1x + \dots + p_n x^n$.
I ...
- 427
20
votes
1
answer
3k
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On a theorem of Jacobson
In a comment to an answer to a MO question, in which Bill Dubuque mentioned Jacobson's theorem stating that a ring in which $X^n=X$ is an identity is commutative (theorem which has shown up on MO ...
- 47.3k
4
votes
1
answer
914
views
Elements of trace zero in a field extension
Let $K=F_q$ and $F=F_{q^3}$, define the set A={$x \in F$ : $Tr_{F/K} (x)=0$}.
Is it true that for every $x \in A$ there are $y,z \in A$ such that $x=yz$?
- 1,163
5
votes
4
answers
388
views
Familiar equations in more general settings
What equations, or results about equations, generalize in interesting ways from number theory or geometry to more abstract settings? The motivating example for this question was as follows:
...
- 3,612
16
votes
4
answers
2k
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Neusis constructions
Is there some simple description of which complex numbers are "constructible" with straightedge and compass and neusis?
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructible_number and http://en.wikipedia....
user5810
2
votes
0
answers
165
views
Ideals weak equivalence and "finite" equivalence
Let $R$ be an order in a number field. Two $R$-ideals $I$ and $J$ are weak equivalent if there exist (necessarily invertible) ideals $X$ and $Y$ such that $I X=J$ and $J Y=I$.
This is equivalent to ...
54
votes
8
answers
58k
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Modern algebraic geometry vs. classical algebraic geometry
Can anyone offer advice on roughly how much commutative algebra, homological algebra etc. one needs to know to do research in (or to learn) modern algebraic geometry. Would you need to be familiar ...
16
votes
5
answers
5k
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An advanced exposition of Galois theory
My knowledge of Galois theory is woefully inadequate. Thus, I'd be interested in an exposition that assumes little knowledge of Galois theory, but is advanced in other respects. For instance, it would ...
0
votes
1
answer
630
views
Useless question on rank
What is the rank of $A^{n}$ if A is the zero ring? It's clearly not $n$ as many careless authors claim, since it's not even invariant. I don't think it's 0 either because it does have a linearly ...
- 2,857
114
votes
2
answers
12k
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How would you solve this tantalizing Halmos problem?
$1-ab$ invertible $\implies$ $1-ba$ invertible has a slick power series "proof" as below, where Halmos asks for an explanation of why this tantalizing derivation succeeds. Do you know one?
Geometric ...
- 4,736
1
vote
1
answer
219
views
Name for a module with only one associated prime
In EGA IV2, Def. 3.2.4, Grothendieck defines a quasicoherent sheaf over a locally Noetherian scheme to be "irredondant" if it has a unique associated point. Presumeably, a module over a Noetherian ...
- 7,338
16
votes
1
answer
2k
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Does ZF prove that all PIDs are UFDs?
Main Question:
Does ZF (no axiom of choice) prove that every Principal Ideal Domain is a Unique Factorization Domain?
The proofs I've seen all use dependent choice.
Minor Questions:
Does ZF + ...
user5810
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the category of affine schemes (over a fixed field) Cartesian closed?
This is probably a trivial question, but I don't see the answer, and I haven't found it on Wikipedia, nLab, nor MathOverflow.
Let $\text{ComAlg}$ denote the category whose objects are commutative ...
- 54.6k
2
votes
0
answers
348
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How much can we say about the number of nilpotents in a finite local commutative ring?
A commutative ring is local if it has a single maximal ideal. If the ring is finite, this implies that all elements are either units or nilpotents. Further, all finite local rings have prime power ...
- 1,793