Questions tagged [ac.commutative-algebra]
Commutative rings, modules, ideals, homological algebra, computational aspects, invariant theory, connections to algebraic geometry and combinatorics.
563
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Two conjectures by Gabber on Brauer and Picard groups
In a paper I need to make reference to two conjectures by Gabber, from
Ofer Gabber, On purity for the Brauer group, in: Arithmetic Algebraic Geometry, MFO Report No. 37/2004, doi:10.14760/OWR-2004-37
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21
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2
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Standard reduction to the artinian local case?
Where can I find a clear exposé of the so called "standard reduction to the local artinian (with algebraically closed residue field", a sentence I read everywhere but that is never completely unfold?
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21
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1
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Existence of a polynomial $Q$ of degree $\geq (p-1)/4$ in $\mathbb F_p[x]$ such that $QQ'$ factorizes into distinct linear factors
For all primes up to $p=89$ there exists a product $Q=\prod_{j=1}^d(x-a_j)$ involving $d\geq (p-1)/4$ distinct linear factors $x-a_j$ in $\mathbb F_p[x]$ such that $Q'$ has all its roots in $\mathbb ...
21
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1
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Joyal's construction of the spectrum of a commutative ring
I am trying to understand bits and pieces of Lawvere's article Continuously Variable Sets; Algebraic Geometry = Geometric Logic. I'm not doing very well.
I know this is a lot to ask, but basically, I ...
21
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1
answer
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Does formally etale imply flat for noetherian schemes?
This is a followup to an earlier question I asked: Does formally etale imply flat? After some remarks I received on MO I noticed that this was answered to the negative by an answer to an earlier ...
21
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3
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Which rings are subrings of matrix rings?
In this question, all rings are commutative with a $1$, unless we explicitly say
so, and all morphisms of rings send $1$ to $1$.
Let $A$ be a Noetherian local integral domain. Let $T$ be a non-zero $...
21
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2
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If a polynomial ring is finite free over a subring, is the subring polynomial?
Let $R = k[x_1, \ldots, x_n]$ for $k$ a field of characteristic zero and let $S \subset R$ be a graded sub-$k$-algebra (for the standard grading: $\deg x_i = 1$) such that $R$ is a free $S$-module of ...
21
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2
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Stability of real polynomials with positive coefficients
Say that a polynomial in an indeterminate $x$ with real coefficients of degree $d$ has positive coefficients if each of the coefficients of $x^d,\ldots,x^1,x^0$ is (strictly) positive.
For $f$ a ...
21
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3
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Nice algebraic statements independent from ZF + V=L (constructibility)
Background and motivation
I've always been fascinated about algebraic statements independent from ZFC set theory. One such fascinating example comes from considering $\rm{Ext}^1_\mathbb{Z}(A,\mathbb{Z}...
20
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4
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Why are finitely generated modules over principal artin local rings direct sums of cyclic modules?
I am looking for a proof of the following fact:
If $R$ is a principal artin local ring and $M$ a finitely generated $R$-module, then $M$ is a direct sum of cyclic $R$-modules.
(Apparently such rings $...
20
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3
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Is every integral epimorphism of commutative rings surjective?
That's the question. Recall that a morphism $f\colon A\to B$ of commutative rings is integral if every element in $B$ is the root of a monic polynomial with coefficients in the image of $A$ and that $...
20
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1
answer
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Does the ring $R = \mathbb{Z}[X^{\pm1}]$ of Laurent polynomials over $\mathbb{Z}$ satisfy $SL_2(R) = E_2(R)$?
Let $R = \mathbb{Z}[X^{\pm1}]$ be the ring of Laurent polynomials on one indeterminate over $\mathbb{Z}$. Let $E_2(R)$ be the subgroup of $GL_2(R)$ generated by the matrices that differ from the ...
20
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How is a descent datum the same as a comodule structure?
For a homomorphism of commutative rings $f:R\to S$, there are at least two notions of a descent datum for this map. One of these is to be an $S$-module $M$, with an isomorphism $M\otimes_R S\cong S\...
20
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1
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Modules and Square Zero Extensions
Let $R$ be a commutative ring, $RMod$ its category of modules and $CRing$ the category of commutative rings.
There's an embedding $RMod \rightarrow CRing/R$ that sends an $R$-module $M$ to the ring ...
19
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2
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Ostrowski's Theorem for topological rings?
Ostrowski's theorem classifies all absolute values on a number field $K$.
Questions:
More generally, can one classify all Hausdorff topologies on $K$ making $K$ into a topological field?
In ...
19
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3
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How to construct a constructive proof from a non-constructive proof using prime ideals?
The sum of two nilpotent elements of a commutative ring is nilpotent. This can be checked by a direct calculation using the binomial theorem. In fact, this calculation shows the stronger statement $x^...
19
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5
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When a formal power series is a rational function in disguise
Given a formal power series $f \in k[[X]]$, where $k$ is a commutative field, is there any good way to tell whether or not $f\in k(X)$?
Edit: To clarify, "good way to tell" means "computable ...
19
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5
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Constructively, is the unit of the “free abelian group” monad on sets injective?
Classically, we can explicitly construct the free Abelian group $\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb{Z}}\Z[X]$ on a set $X$ as the set of finitely-supported functions $X \to \Z$, and so easily see that the unit ...
19
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3
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Simple example of a ring which is normal but not CM
I try to keep a list of standard ring examples in my head to test commutative algebra conjectures against. I would therefore like to have an example of a ring which is normal but not Cohen-Macaulay. I'...
19
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2
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Characterizations of UFD and Euclidean domain by ideal-theoretic conditions
This questions is inspired by an exercise in Hungerford that I have only partially solved. The exercise reads: "A domain is a UFD if and only if every nonzero prime ideal contains a nonzero principal ...
19
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2
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Are morphisms from affine schemes to arbitrary schemes affine morphisms?
To put this question in precise language, let $X$ be an affine scheme, and $Y$ be an arbitrary scheme, and $f : X \rightarrow Y$ a morphism from $X$ to $Y$. Does it follow that $f$ is an affine ...
19
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2
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Do all subtraction-free identities tropicalize?
If you take a subtraction-free rational identity like $(xxx+yyy)/(x+y)+xy=xx+yy$ and replace $\times$,$/$,$+$,$1$ by $+$,$-$,min,$0$, do you always get a valid min,plus,minus identity like min(min($x+...
19
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3
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Total ring of fractions vs. Localization
Let $R$ be a commutative ring and denote by $K(R)$ its total ring of fractions, the localization of $R$ with respect to $R_{\mathrm{reg}}$. For every multiplicative subset $U \subseteq R$ there is a ...
18
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5
answers
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Is a complete homogeneous symmetric polynomial irreducible?
Let $S=\mathbb{C}[x_1,x_2,\dots,x_n]$ be a polynomial ring. Let $n \geq 3$. Let $h_a$ denotes the complete homogeneous symmetric polynomial of degree $a$.
$$ h_a=\text{ sum of all monomials of degree }...
18
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9
answers
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What representative examples of modules should I keep in mind?
So here's my problem: I have no intuition for how a "generic" module over a commutative ring should behave. (I think I should never have been told "modules are like vector spaces.") The only ...
18
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3
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Generalized Euler phi function
Let $n$ be an integer, there is a well-known formula for $\varphi(n)$ where $\varphi$ is the Euler phi function. Essentially, $\varphi(n)$ gives the number of invertible elements in $\mathbb{Z}/n\...
18
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4
answers
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Flatness of normalization
Let $X$ be a noetherian integral scheme and let $f \colon X' \to X$ be the normalization morphism. It is known that, if non trivial, $f$ is never flat (see Liu, example 4.3.5).
What happens if we ...
18
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5
answers
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Is $x^p-x+1$ always irreducible in $\mathbb F_p[x]$?
It seems that for any prime number $p$ and for any non-zero element $a$ in the finite field $\mathbb F_p$, the polynomial $x^p-x+a$ is irreducible over $\mathbb F_p$. (It is of course obvious that ...
18
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3
answers
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Alternate proofs of Hilberts Basis Theorem
I'm interested in proofs using ideas from outside commutative algebra of Hilbert's Basis Theorem.
If $R$ is a noetherian ring, then so is $R[X]$.
or its sister version
If $R$ is a noetherian ...
18
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2
answers
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Equivalence of "Weyl Algebra" and "Crystalline" definitions of rings of differential operators between modules?
Let $B$ be a commutative $A$-algebra, and let $M$, $N$ be two $B$-modules. We can talk about the set of $A$-linear module homomorphisms $M \to N$, i.e. the set $\text{Hom}_A(M, N)$. Differential ...
18
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4
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Bass' stable range condition for principal ideal domains
In his algebraic K-Theory book Bass gives the following property on a ring $R$ and a number $n$:
For every $n$ elements $v_1, \ldots, v_n$ that generate the unit ideal there are numbers $r_1, \ldots ...
18
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3
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The isomorphism class of $\mathrm{Ext}^1_\mathbb{Z}(\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z},\mathbb{Z})$
In a recent conversation with a colleague, the following question arose:
What is the isomorphism class of $\mathrm{Ext}^1_\mathbb{Z}(\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z},\mathbb{Z})$? That is to say, what is $...
17
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1
answer
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Composing left and right derived functors
I would appreciate either an explanation or a reference for what is going on here.
Motivation:
Let $f : X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism of algebraic varieties. The derived projection formula implies ...
17
votes
1
answer
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Geometric interpretation of filtered rings and modules
Let $A$ be a commutative algebra, say over $\mathbb{C}$.
Giving a grading on $A$ corresponds at least morally to giving a $\mathbb{C}^*$ action on spec(A): $A_i$ can be thought of as those ...
17
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3
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If a formal power series over the complex numbers satisfies a polynomial identity, does it imply that the power series has a radius of convergence?
Let $ P(z) $ be a $\textit{formal}$ power series in $z$ that a priori may not have a non zero radius of convergence. Assume that $P(0) =0$.
Let $\Phi(w,z)$ be a polynomial in two variables, that ...
17
votes
1
answer
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Non-isomorphic rings that are localizations of each other
Do there exist commutative rings $A$ and $B$ and multiplicative subsets $S\subseteq A$, $T\subseteq B$ such that $A\not\simeq B$ but $S^{-1}A \simeq B$ and $T^{-1} B\simeq A$?
This question comes ...
16
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2
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Extra principal Cartier divisors on non-Noetherian rings? (answered: no!)
On the way to defining Cartier divisors on a scheme $X$, one sheafifies a presheaf base-presheaf of rings $\mathcal{K}'(U)=Frac(\mathcal{O}(U))$ on open affines $U$ to get a sheaf $\mathcal{K}$ of "...
16
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3
answers
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For which rings R is SL_n(R) generated by its n-1 fundamental copies of SL_2(R)?
By "fundamental copies" of $SL_2(R)$ in $SL_n(R)$, I mean those embedded along the diagonal (for instance, if $n=3$, those are the upper left and lower right corner copies of $SL_2(R)$ embedded in $...
16
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1
answer
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Where was $I_x/I_x^2$ first introduced? (DG or AG)
Cotangent space appears in both differential geometry (DG) and algebraic geometry (AG).
In DG, given a smooth manifold $M$ and $x\in M$ one has an isomorphism $I_x/I_x^2 \cong T^*_xM$, where $I_x$ is ...
16
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4
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Is there a simple method to test a local ring to be Cohen Macaulay?
Hi, everybody. I'm recently reading W.Bruns and J.Herzog's famous book-Cohen-Macaulay Rings. I personally believe that it would be perfect if the authors provide for readers more concrete examples. ...
16
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4
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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 ...
16
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2
answers
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Witt-vector vectors
I've never really made my way in any detail through the Witt-vector construction. I did read all the articles that a quick Google and MSN search turned up, and none seemed to address it, but I could ...
16
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1
answer
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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 + ...
15
votes
2
answers
858
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injectivity of torsion submodules of injectives
Local cohomology with respect to an ideal $\mathfrak{a}$ is often studied over a Noetherian ring $R$. However, the proof of a lot of basic results does not rely on noetherianity of $R$, but rather on ...
15
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6
answers
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An example of a series that is not differentially algebraic?
Motivated by this question, I remembered a question I was curious about sometime which I am sure has some easy and nice example for it as well, which I just can't think of for some reason. I want an ...
15
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6
answers
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Seeking Noetherian normal domain with vanishing Picard group but not a UFD
Once again, the question says it all.
My motivation is the article on factorization I am writing. I want to explain (as well as to understand!) why for normal Noetherian domains of dimension greater ...
15
votes
1
answer
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Different definitions of the rank of a module
I have seen different definitions of a rank of a module $M$ over a commutative ring $R$.
Here in nLab, for quite general modules, the rank is defined locally at $p\in \mathrm{Spec}(R)$ as the ...
14
votes
5
answers
972
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How can I write down polynomial relations that define when a polynomial is a square?
It's easy to tell when a polynomial is squarefree (or not): that's just the question of the vanishing of the discriminant, which can be dealt with as the resultant of $f$ and $f'$. However, given a ...
14
votes
4
answers
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Applications of Govorov-Lazard Theorem?
I asked this question on SE a long time ago, but never received an answer:
The Govorov-Lazard Theorem states that a (left) module over an unital ring is flat iff it is a direct limit of finitely ...
14
votes
3
answers
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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 ...