Lemma 86.3.1. Let $A$ be a Noetherian ring and let $I \subset A$ be a ideal. Let $B$ be an object of (86.2.0.2). The naive cotangent complex $\mathop{N\! L}\nolimits _{B/A}^\wedge$ is well defined in $K(B)$.

Proof. The lemma signifies that given a second presentation $B = A[y_1, \ldots , y_ s]^\wedge / K$ the complexes of $B$-modules

$(J/J^2 \to B\text{d}x_ i) \quad \text{and}\quad (K/K^2 \to \bigoplus B\text{d}y_ j)$

are homotopy equivalent. To see this, we can argue exactly as in the proof of Algebra, Lemma 10.134.2.

Step 1. If we choose $g_ i(y_1, \ldots , y_ s) \in A[y_1, \ldots , y_ s]^\wedge$ mapping to the image of $x_ i$ in $B$, then we obtain a (unique) continuous $A$-algebra homomorphism

$A[x_1, \ldots , x_ r]^\wedge \to A[y_1, \ldots , y_ s]^\wedge ,\quad x_ i \mapsto g_ i(y_1, \ldots , y_ s)$

compatible with the given surjections to $B$. Such a map is called a morphism of presentations. It induces a map from $J$ into $K$ and hence induces a $B$-module map $J/J^2 \to K/K^2$. Sending $\text{d}x_ i$ to $\sum (\partial g_ i/\partial y_ j)\text{d}y_ j$ we obtain a map of complexes

$(J/J^2 \to \bigoplus B\text{d}x_ i) \longrightarrow (K/K^2 \to \bigoplus B\text{d}y_ j)$

Of course we can do the same thing with the roles of the two presentations exchanged to get a map of complexes in the other direction.

Step 2. The construction above is compatible with compositions of morphsms of presentations. Hence to finish the proof it suffices to show: given $g_ i(x_1, \ldots , x_ r) \in A[x_1, \ldots , x_ n]^\wedge$ mapping to the image of $x_ i$ in $B$, the induced map of complexes

$(J/J^2 \to \bigoplus B\text{d}x_ i) \longrightarrow (J/J^2 \to \bigoplus B\text{d}x_ i)$

is homotopic to the identity map. To see this consider the map $h : \bigoplus B \text{d}x_ i \to J/J^2$ given by the rule $\text{d}x_ i \mapsto g_ i(x_1, \ldots , x_ n) - x_ i$ and compute. $\square$

In your comment you can use Markdown and LaTeX style mathematics (enclose it like $\pi$). A preview option is available if you wish to see how it works out (just click on the eye in the toolbar).