10.109 Rings of finite global dimension
The following lemma is often used to compare different projective resolutions of a given module.
Lemma 10.109.1 (Schanuel's lemma). Let R be a ring. Let M be an R-module. Suppose that
0 \to K \xrightarrow {c_1} P_1 \xrightarrow {p_1} M \to 0 \quad \text{and}\quad 0 \to L \xrightarrow {c_2} P_2 \xrightarrow {p_2} M \to 0
are two short exact sequences, with P_ i projective. Then K \oplus P_2 \cong L \oplus P_1. More precisely, there exist a commutative diagram
\xymatrix{ 0 \ar[r] & K \oplus P_2 \ar[r]_{(c_1, \text{id})} \ar[d] & P_1 \oplus P_2 \ar[r]_{(p_1, 0)} \ar[d] & M \ar[r] \ar@{=}[d] & 0 \\ 0 \ar[r] & P_1 \oplus L \ar[r]^{(\text{id}, c_2)} & P_1 \oplus P_2 \ar[r]^{(0, p_2)} & M \ar[r] & 0 }
whose vertical arrows are isomorphisms.
Proof.
Consider the module N defined by the short exact sequence 0 \to N \to P_1 \oplus P_2 \to M \to 0, where the last map is the sum of the two maps P_ i \to M. It is easy to see that the projection N \to P_1 is surjective with kernel L, and that N \to P_2 is surjective with kernel K. Since P_ i are projective we have N \cong K \oplus P_2 \cong L \oplus P_1. This proves the first statement.
To prove the second statement (and to reprove the first), choose a : P_1 \to P_2 and b : P_2 \to P_1 such that p_1 = p_2 \circ a and p_2 = p_1 \circ b. This is possible because P_1 and P_2 are projective. Then we get a commutative diagram
\xymatrix{ 0 \ar[r] & K \oplus P_2 \ar[r]_{(c_1, \text{id})} & P_1 \oplus P_2 \ar[r]_{(p_1, 0)} & M \ar[r] & 0 \\ 0 \ar[r] & N \ar[r] \ar[d] \ar[u] & P_1 \oplus P_2 \ar[r]_{(p_1, p_2)} \ar[d]_ S \ar[u]^ T & M \ar[r] \ar@{=}[d] \ar@{=}[u] & 0 \\ 0 \ar[r] & P_1 \oplus L \ar[r]^{(\text{id}, c_2)} & P_1 \oplus P_2 \ar[r]^{(0, p_2)} & M \ar[r] & 0 }
with T and S given by the matrices
S = \left( \begin{matrix} \text{id}
& 0
\\ a
& \text{id}
\end{matrix} \right) \quad \text{and}\quad T = \left( \begin{matrix} \text{id}
& b
\\ 0
& \text{id}
\end{matrix} \right)
Then S, T and the maps N \to P_1 \oplus L and N \to K \oplus P_2 are isomorphisms as desired.
\square
Definition 10.109.2. Let R be a ring. Let M be an R-module. We say M has finite projective dimension if it has a finite length resolution by projective R-modules. The minimal length of such a resolution is called the projective dimension of M.
It is clear that the projective dimension of M is 0 if and only if M is a projective module. The following lemma explains to what extent the projective dimension is independent of the choice of a projective resolution.
Lemma 10.109.3. Let R be a ring. Suppose that M is an R-module of projective dimension d. Suppose that F_ e \to F_{e-1} \to \ldots \to F_0 \to M \to 0 is exact with F_ i projective and e \geq d - 1. Then the kernel of F_ e \to F_{e-1} is projective (or the kernel of F_0 \to M is projective in case e = 0).
Proof.
We prove this by induction on d. If d = 0, then M is projective. In this case there is a splitting F_0 = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_0 \to M) \oplus M, and hence \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_0 \to M) is projective. This finishes the proof if e = 0, and if e > 0, then replacing M by \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_0 \to M) we decrease e.
Next assume d > 0. Let 0 \to P_ d \to P_{d-1} \to \ldots \to P_0 \to M \to 0 be a minimal length finite resolution with P_ i projective. According to Schanuel's Lemma 10.109.1 we have P_0 \oplus \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_0 \to M) \cong F_0 \oplus \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(P_0 \to M). This proves the case d = 1, e = 0, because then the right hand side is F_0 \oplus P_1 which is projective. Hence now we may assume e > 0. The module F_0 \oplus \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(P_0 \to M) has the finite projective resolution
0 \to P_ d \to P_{d-1} \to \ldots \to P_2 \to P_1 \oplus F_0 \to \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(P_0 \to M) \oplus F_0 \to 0
of length d - 1. By induction applied to the exact sequence
F_ e \to F_{e-1} \to \ldots \to F_2 \to P_0 \oplus F_1 \to P_0 \oplus \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_0 \to M) \to 0
of length e - 1 we conclude \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_ e \to F_{e - 1}) is projective (if e \geq 2) or that \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_1 \oplus P_0 \to F_0 \oplus P_0) is projective. This implies the lemma.
\square
Lemma 10.109.4. Let R be a ring. Let M be an R-module. Let d \geq 0. The following are equivalent
M has projective dimension \leq d,
there exists a resolution 0 \to P_ d \to P_{d - 1} \to \ldots \to P_0 \to M \to 0 with P_ i projective,
for some resolution \ldots \to P_2 \to P_1 \to P_0 \to M \to 0 with P_ i projective we have \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(P_{d - 1} \to P_{d - 2}) is projective if d \geq 2, or \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(P_0 \to M) is projective if d = 1, or M is projective if d = 0,
for any resolution \ldots \to P_2 \to P_1 \to P_0 \to M \to 0 with P_ i projective we have \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(P_{d - 1} \to P_{d - 2}) is projective if d \geq 2, or \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(P_0 \to M) is projective if d = 1, or M is projective if d = 0.
Proof.
The equivalence of (1) and (2) is the definition of projective dimension, see Definition 10.109.2. We have (2) \Rightarrow (4) by Lemma 10.109.3. The implications (4) \Rightarrow (3) and (3) \Rightarrow (2) are immediate.
\square
Lemma 10.109.5. Let R be a local ring. Let M be an R-module. Let d \geq 0. The equivalent conditions (1) – (4) of Lemma 10.109.4 are also equivalent to
there exists a resolution 0 \to P_ d \to P_{d - 1} \to \ldots \to P_0 \to M \to 0 with P_ i free.
Proof.
Follows from Lemma 10.109.4 and Theorem 10.85.4.
\square
Lemma 10.109.6. Let R be a Noetherian ring. Let M be a finite R-module. Let d \geq 0. The equivalent conditions (1) – (4) of Lemma 10.109.4 are also equivalent to
there exists a resolution 0 \to P_ d \to P_{d - 1} \to \ldots \to P_0 \to M \to 0 with P_ i finite projective.
Proof.
Choose a resolution \ldots \to F_2 \to F_1 \to F_0 \to M \to 0 with F_ i finite free (Lemma 10.71.1). By Lemma 10.109.4 we see that P_ d = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(F_{d - 1} \to F_{d - 2}) is projective at least if d \geq 2. Then P_ d is a finite R-module as R is Noetherian and P_ d \subset F_{d - 1} which is finite free. Whence 0 \to P_ d \to F_{d - 1} \to \ldots \to F_1 \to F_0 \to M \to 0 is the desired resolution.
\square
Lemma 10.109.7. Let R be a local Noetherian ring. Let M be a finite R-module. Let d \geq 0. The equivalent conditions (1) – (4) of Lemma 10.109.4, condition (5) of Lemma 10.109.5, and condition (6) of Lemma 10.109.6 are also equivalent to
there exists a resolution 0 \to F_ d \to F_{d - 1} \to \ldots \to F_0 \to M \to 0 with F_ i finite free.
Proof.
This follows from Lemmas 10.109.4, 10.109.5, and 10.109.6 and because a finite projective module over a local ring is finite free, see Lemma 10.78.2.
\square
Lemma 10.109.8. Let R be a ring. Let M be an R-module. Let n \geq 0. The following are equivalent
M has projective dimension \leq n,
\mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits ^ i_ R(M, N) = 0 for all R-modules N and all i \geq n + 1, and
\mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits ^{n + 1}_ R(M, N) = 0 for all R-modules N.
Proof.
Assume (1). Choose a free resolution F_\bullet \to M of M. Denote d_ e : F_ e \to F_{e - 1}. By Lemma 10.109.3 we see that P_ e = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(d_ e) is projective for e \geq n - 1. This implies that F_ e \cong P_ e \oplus P_{e - 1} for e \geq n where d_ e maps the summand P_{e - 1} isomorphically to P_{e - 1} in F_{e - 1}. Hence, for any R-module N the complex \mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ R(F_\bullet , N) is split exact in degrees \geq n + 1. Whence (2) holds. The implication (2) \Rightarrow (3) is trivial.
Assume (3) holds. If n = 0 then M is projective by Lemma 10.77.2 and we see that (1) holds. If n > 0 choose a free R-module F and a surjection F \to M with kernel K. By Lemma 10.71.7 and the vanishing of \mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits _ R^ i(F, N) for all i > 0 by part (1) we see that \mathop{\mathrm{Ext}}\nolimits _ R^ n(K, N) = 0 for all R-modules N. Hence by induction we see that K has projective dimension \leq n - 1. Then M has projective dimension \leq n as any finite projective resolution of K gives a projective resolution of length one more for M by adding F to the front.
\square
Lemma 10.109.9. Let R be a ring. Let 0 \to M' \to M \to M'' \to 0 be a short exact sequence of R-modules.
If M has projective dimension \leq n and M'' has projective dimension \leq n + 1, then M' has projective dimension \leq n.
If M' and M'' have projective dimension \leq n then M has projective dimension \leq n.
If M' has projective dimension \leq n and M has projective dimension \leq n + 1 then M'' has projective dimension \leq n + 1.
Proof.
Combine the characterization of projective dimension in Lemma 10.109.8 with the long exact sequence of ext groups in Lemma 10.71.7.
\square
Definition 10.109.10. Let R be a ring. The ring R is said to have finite global dimension if there exists an integer n such that every R-module has a resolution by projective R-modules of length at most n. The minimal such n is then called the global dimension of R.
The argument in the proof of the following lemma can be found in the paper [Auslander] by Auslander.
Lemma 10.109.11. Let R be a ring. Suppose we have a module M = \bigcup _{e \in E} M_ e where the M_ e are submodules well-ordered by inclusion. Assume the quotients M_ e/\bigcup \nolimits _{e' < e} M_{e'} have projective dimension \leq n. Then M has projective dimension \leq n.
Proof.
We will prove this by induction on n.
Base case: n = 0. Then P_ e = M_ e/\bigcup _{e' < e} M_{e'} is projective. Thus we may choose a section P_ e \to M_ e of the projection M_ e \to P_ e. We claim that the induced map \psi : \bigoplus _{e \in E} P_ e \to M is an isomorphism. Namely, if x = \sum x_ e \in \bigoplus P_ e is nonzero, then we let e_{max} be maximal such that x_{e_{max}} is nonzero and we conclude that y = \psi (x) = \psi (\sum x_ e) is nonzero because y \in M_{e_{max}} has nonzero image x_{e_{max}} in P_{e_{max}}. On the other hand, let y \in M. Then y \in M_ e for some e. We show that y \in \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(\psi ) by transfinite induction on e. Let x_ e \in P_ e be the image of y. Then y - \psi (x_ e) \in \bigcup _{e' < e} M_{e'}. By induction hypothesis we conclude that y - \psi (x_ e) \in \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(\psi ) hence y \in \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(\psi ). Thus the claim is true and \psi is an isomorphism. We conclude that M is projective as a direct sum of projectives, see Lemma 10.77.4.
If n > 0, then for e \in E we denote F_ e the free R-module on the set of elements of M_ e. Then we have a system of short exact sequences
0 \to K_ e \to F_ e \to M_ e \to 0
over the well-ordered set E. Note that the transition maps F_{e'} \to F_ e and K_{e'} \to K_ e are injective too. Set F = \bigcup F_ e and K = \bigcup K_ e. Then
0 \to K_ e/\bigcup \nolimits _{e' < e} K_{e'} \to F_ e/\bigcup \nolimits _{e' < e} F_{e'} \to M_ e/\bigcup \nolimits _{e' < e} M_{e'} \to 0
is a short exact sequence of R-modules too and F_ e/\bigcup _{e' < e} F_{e'} is the free R-module on the set of elements in M_ e which are not contained in \bigcup _{e' < e} M_{e'}. Hence by Lemma 10.109.9 we see that the projective dimension of K_ e/\bigcup _{e' < e} K_{e'} is at most n - 1. By induction we conclude that K has projective dimension at most n - 1. Whence M has projective dimension at most n and we win.
\square
Lemma 10.109.12. Let R be a ring. The following are equivalent
R has finite global dimension \leq n,
every finite R-module has projective dimension \leq n, and
every cyclic R-module R/I has projective dimension \leq n.
Proof.
It is clear that (1) \Rightarrow (2) and (2) \Rightarrow (3). Assume (3). Choose a set E \subset M of generators of M. Choose a well ordering on E. For e \in E denote M_ e the submodule of M generated by the elements e' \in E with e' \leq e. Then M = \bigcup _{e \in E} M_ e. Note that for each e \in E the quotient
M_ e/\bigcup \nolimits _{e' < e} M_{e'}
is either zero or generated by one element, hence has projective dimension \leq n by (3). By Lemma 10.109.11 this means that M has projective dimension \leq n.
\square
Lemma 10.109.13. Let R be a ring. Let M be an R-module. Let S \subset R be a multiplicative subset.
If M has projective dimension \leq n, then S^{-1}M has projective dimension \leq n over S^{-1}R.
If R has finite global dimension \leq n, then S^{-1}R has finite global dimension \leq n.
Proof.
Let 0 \to P_ n \to P_{n - 1} \to \ldots \to P_0 \to M \to 0 be a projective resolution. As localization is exact, see Proposition 10.9.12, and as each S^{-1}P_ i is a projective S^{-1}R-module, see Lemma 10.94.1, we see that 0 \to S^{-1}P_ n \to \ldots \to S^{-1}P_0 \to S^{-1}M \to 0 is a projective resolution of S^{-1}M. This proves (1). Let M' be an S^{-1}R-module. Note that M' = S^{-1}M'. Hence we see that (2) follows from (1).
\square
Comments (1)
Comment #689 by Keenan Kidwell on