The Stacks project

Lemma 12.4.2. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a preadditive category. The following are equivalent

  1. $\mathcal{C}$ is Karoubian,

  2. every idempotent endomorphism of an object of $\mathcal{C}$ has a cokernel, and

  3. given an idempotent endomorphism $p : z \to z$ of $\mathcal{C}$ there exists a direct sum decomposition $z = x \oplus y$ such that $p$ corresponds to the projection onto $y$.

Proof. Assume (1) and let $p : z \to z$ be as in (3). Let $x = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(p)$ and $y = \mathop{\mathrm{Ker}}(1 - p)$. There are maps $x \to z$ and $y \to z$. Since $(1 - p)p = 0$ we see that $p : z \to z$ factors through $y$, hence we obtain a morphism $z \to y$. Similarly we obtain a morphism $z \to x$. We omit the verification that these four morphisms induce an isomorphism $x = y \oplus z$ as in Remark 12.3.6. Thus (1) $\Rightarrow $ (3). The implication (2) $\Rightarrow $ (3) is dual. Finally, condition (3) implies (1) and (2) by Lemma 12.3.10. $\square$


Comments (4)

Comment #539 by Nuno on

Minor typo: "induce an isomorphsm"

Comment #9223 by on

One could add another equivalent property:

(4) Every idempotent endomorphism is of the form , where and is a section of .

Proof. (3)(4). Clear.

(4)(3). Suppose that is a retraction of . Then is an idempotent endomorphism and thus so is . Hence, , where and is a section of . We already know that , , , so by Remark 12.3.6 it suffices to see , . Note , thus by monicity of . Analogously, .

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