The Stacks project

Definition 4.27.1. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a category. A set of arrows $S$ of $\mathcal{C}$ is called a left multiplicative system if it has the following properties:

1. The identity of every object of $\mathcal{C}$ is in $S$ and the composition of two composable elements of $S$ is in $S$.

2. Every solid diagram

   \[ \xymatrix{ X \ar[d]_ t \ar[r]_ g & Y \ar@{..>}[d]^ s \\ Z \ar@{..>}[r]^ f & W } \]

   with $t \in S$ can be completed to a commutative dotted square with $s \in S$.

3. For every pair of morphisms $f, g : X \to Y$ and $t \in S$ with target $X$ such that $f \circ t = g \circ t$ there exists an $s \in S$ with source $Y$ such that $s \circ f = s \circ g$.

A set of arrows $S$ of $\mathcal{C}$ is called a right multiplicative system if it has the following properties:

1. The identity of every object of $\mathcal{C}$ is in $S$ and the composition of two composable elements of $S$ is in $S$.

2. Every solid diagram

   \[ \xymatrix{ X \ar@{..>}[d]_ t \ar@{..>}[r]_ g & Y \ar[d]^ s \\ Z \ar[r]^ f & W } \]

   with $s \in S$ can be completed to a commutative dotted square with $t \in S$.

3. For every pair of morphisms $f, g : X \to Y$ and $s \in S$ with source $Y$ such that $s \circ f = s \circ g$ there exists a $t \in S$ with target $X$ such that $f \circ t = g \circ t$.

A set of arrows $S$ of $\mathcal{C}$ is called a multiplicative system if it is both a left multiplicative system and a right multiplicative system. In other words, this means that MS1, MS2, MS3 hold, where MS1 $=$ LMS1 $+$ RMS1, MS2 $=$ LMS2 $+$ RMS2, and MS3 $=$ LMS3 $+$ RMS3. (That said, of course LMS1 $=$ RMS1 $=$ MS1.)