Definition 1. An R-module M is flat if M⊗R− is exact. Moreover, if the functor is faithful, we call M faithfully flat.
Flatness can be preserved by the direct sum.
Lemma 1. A direct sum M=⨁Mλ is flat if and only if Mλ is flat for every λ. Further, M is faithfully flat if at least on Mλ is faithfully flat.
Proof
Proof. For f:N′→N an injective homomorphism, (⨁Mλ)⊗f=⨁(Mλ⊗f). Here ⨁(Mλ⊗f):M⊗N′→M⊗N is injective. Thus M⊗− preserves injectives if and only if Mλ preserves injectives.
For faithfully flat, M⊗N=⨁((Mλ⊗N)). Thus if M⊗N=0, then Mλ⊗N=0 for all λ. If at least one Mλ is faithfully flat, then immediately N=0. M is faithfully flat. ◻
Theorem 1. A nonzero free module is faithfully flat. Projective modules are flat.
Proof
Proof. For free module F≅⨁ΛR. R is obviously faithfully flat, so F is faithfully flat. Since projective modules are direct summands of free modules, they are flat. ◻
Proposition 1. For 0→M′→M→M′′→0 an exact sequence of modules. Assume M′′ is flat.
1. 0→M′⊗N→M⊗N→M′′⊗N→0 is exact for any module N.
2. M is flat if and only if M′ is flat.
Proof
Proof.
For any N, take the free presentation 0→K→RΛ→N→0, tensor it with the exact sequence 0→M′→M→M′′→0, we have the following commutative diagram.
Since RΛ and M′′ are flat, α and β are injective. So each rows and columns are exact. Then just apply the snake lemma. 0→M′⊗NγM⊗N is exact. γ is injective so 0→M′⊗N→M⊗N→M′′⊗N→0 is exact.
Assume f:N′→N be an injective homomorphism, consider the diagram:
each rows are exact.
Assume M is flat, then α is injective, M′ is flat.
Assume M′ is flat, then α′ is injective. By five lemma, α is injective, M is flat. ◻
Criterion of Flatness
Now we give some criterion of flatness.
Theorem 2. If every finitely generated submodule of M is flat, then M is flat.
Proof
Proof. For injective f:A→B, we only need to show idM⊗f:M⊗A→M⊗B is injective. For any u∈KeridM⊗f, we construct finite generated submodule N of M and v∈N s.t. i⊗idA(v)=u, i is the inclusion map. Assume u=i=1∑nmi⊗ai, (idM⊗f)(u)=∑i=1nmi⊗f(ai). Let (idM⊗f)(u) be finite linear combination of elements in M×B, and take all the elements of the M-coordinate to form the set S. Let N be the submodule of M generated by S∪{m1,…,mn}, v=i=1∑nmi⊗ai∈N⊗A, then the conditions are satisfied. ◻
Similarly, we can proof the criterion.
Theorem 3. M is flat if and only if idM⊗f:M⊗N′→M⊗N is injective for any f:N′→N injective homomorphism, N′,N are finitely generated.
Proof
Proof. Omitted. ◻
Theorem 4 (Lazard). M is flat if and only if M is the colimit of direct system of free finite modules.
Proof
Proof. Omiited. ◻
Theorem 5. For an R-module M, and if ∑ixiyi=0 with xi∈R, yi∈M implies there are xij∈R, yj′∈M s.t. ∑jxijyj′=yj for all i, any ∑ixijxi=0 for all k. Then M is flat.
Proof
Proof. Only need to show for any given α:Rm→M and k∈Kerα, there is φ:Rm→Rn s.t. α:RmφRn→M with φ(k)=0. Then M is filtered direct colimit of free modules with finite rank, by Lazard theorem, M is flat.
Let k=∑ixiei{ei} is the basis of Rm. Define φ:Rm→Rn from the matrix (xij), then φ(k)=∑iφ(ei)=∑ixi∑jxijej′, {ej′} is the basis of Rn. Then φ(k)=0 by assumption. Define β:Rn→M by β(ej′)=yj′. Then β(φ(ej))=β(∑ixijej)=∑ixijyj′=yj. Thus βφ=α. ◻
Actually, the result in the above theorem is an if and only if relation.
Lemma 2. Let R be a ring, M and N are R-modules, and {nλ}λ∈Λ is a set of generators of N. Then any element of M⊗N can be written as a finite sum ∑mλ⊗nλ with mλ∈M. Further, ∑mλ⊗nλ=0 if and only if there are mσ∈M and xλσ∈R for σ∈Σ for some Σ s.t
σ∑xλσmσ=mλ for all λ and λ∑xλσnλ=0 for all σ
Proof
Proof.M⊗N is generated by the elements of the form m⊗n. If n=∑xλnλ with xλ∈R, then m⊗n=∑(xλm)⊗nλ. Thus any element of M⊗N has the form ∑mλ⊗nλ. Assume mσ and the xλσ exist, then
Conversely, take a free presentation RΣβRΛαN→0 with α(eλ)=nλ for all λ, where {eλ} is the basis of RΛ. Then the sequence M⊗RΣ→M⊗RΛ→M⊗N→0 is exact. idM⊗α(∑mλ⊗eλ)=0, so the exactness implies there’s s∈M⊗RΣ s.t. (1⊗β)(s)=∑mλ⊗eλ. Let {eσ} be the basis of RΣ and s=∑mσ⊗eσ with mσ∈M. Write β(eσ)=∑λxλσeλ. Then ∑λxλσnλ=α(β(eσ))=0 and
Theorem 6. An R-module N is flat if and only if for every finite generated ideal a, the natural map a⊗N→aN is an isomorphism.
Proof
Proof. Assume N is flat. We know R⊗N→N is an isomorphism, N is flat so injective homomorphism a→R induces a⊗N→R⊗N=N. So a⊗N→aN is injective thus an isomorphism.
Conversely, given any i=1∑nxiyi=0 with xi∈R, yi∈N. Take a=(x1,…,xn). If a⊗N≅aN, then ∑ixi⊗yi=0, by lemma above, we have ∑σxλσmσ=mλ for all λ and ∑λxλσnλ=0 for all σ. Thus N is flat. ◻
Theorem 7. Let R be a ring and M be a module. Then the following conditions are equivalent:
1. M is flat.
2. Given a finitely presented module P, then there is a canonical homomorphism θ:HomR(P,R)⊗RM→HomR(P,M) and θ is surjective.
3. Given a finite presented module P and a map β:P→M, there is a factorization β:PγPnαM.
4. Given an α:Rm→M and a k∈Kerα, there exists a factorization α:RmφRn→M such that φ(k)=0.
5. Given an α:Rm→M and k1,…,kr∈Kerα, there exists a factorization α:RmφRn→M such that φ(ki)=0 for i=1,…,r.
6. Given RrρRmαM such that αρ=0, there exists a factorization α:RmφRn→M such that φρ=0.
7. Let ΛM be the category whose objects are the pairs (Rm,α), where α:Rm→M is a homomorphism. The morphisms are the homomorphisms φ:Rm→Rn with βφ=α. Then ΛM is filtered.
8. M is a filtered direct limit of free modules of finite rank.