Skip to main content
1 of 3
Mare
  • 26.5k
  • 6
  • 25
  • 104

Characterisation of minimal projective resolutions via the Euler characteristic

Let $A$ be a finite dimensional $K$-algebra (where $K$ is a field) and $M$ a finitely generated $A$-module.

Let $\psi: 0 \rightarrow P_r \rightarrow ... \rightarrow P_0 \rightarrow M \rightarrow 0$ be a complex of $A$-modules such that $P_0 \rightarrow M$ is the projective cover of $M$ and $P_r \rightarrow P_{r-1}$ is injective and where the $P_l$ are projective for $l=0,1,...,r$ and the maps $d_i :P_i \rightarrow P_{i-1}$ are minimal, that is $d_i(X) \neq 0$ for any direct summand $X$ of $P_i$. (so $\psi$ is nearly a minimal projective resolution of $M$, the only thing missing is exactness)

Set $P_{-1}:=M$, then it is well known that the Euler characteristic $\chi(\psi):=\sum\limits_{i=-1}^{r}{dim(P_i)}$ is equal to zero in case $\psi$ is exact.

I remember that there is a converse to that, namely that $\psi$ is exact in case $\chi(\psi)=0$ under some extra conditions on $\psi$. I forgot where I saw that. Maybe someone knows a reference for what I have in mind.

Question: Are the conditions here enough to prove that $\psi$ is exact in case $\chi(\psi)=0$ or what other conditions are needed?

Mare
  • 26.5k
  • 6
  • 25
  • 104