Is the Tensor Product of Flat Modules Flat?

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In summary, the tensor product of flat modules is a mathematical operation denoted by ⊗ that combines two modules to form a new module through linear combinations. It differs from other tensor products as it preserves the flatness property. A module is flat if it satisfies the flatness property, and the tensor product of flat modules always results in a flat module. The flatness of a module is closely related to its homomorphisms, and a module is flat if and only if it is projective, meaning that every homomorphism can be lifted to a homomorphism from a free module.
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Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Prove that the tensor product of finitely many flat modules over a commuative ring is flat.
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Remember to read the https://mathhelpboards.com/showthread.php?772-Problem-of-the-Week-%28POTW%29-Procedure-and-Guidelines to find out how to https://mathhelpboards.com/forms.php?do=form&fid=2!
 
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  • #2
No one answered this week's problem. You can read my solution below.
By induction, it suffices to consider the tensor product of two flat modules, $M$ and $N$, over commutative ring $R$. Given a short exact sequence $0 \to X' \to X \to X'' \to 0$ of $R$-modules, tensoring with $N$ yields a short exact sequence $0 \to N \otimes_R X' \to N \otimes_R X \to N \otimes_R X'' \to 0$. Tensoring the latter sequence with $M$ results in the short exact sequence $0 \to M \otimes_R (N \otimes_R X') \to M \otimes_R (N \otimes_R X) \to M \otimes_R (N \otimes_R X'') \to 0$; by naturality of the associativity isomorphism, the sequence $0 \to (M \otimes_R N) \otimes_R X' \to (M \otimes_R N) \otimes_R X \to (M \otimes_R N) \otimes_R X'' \to 0$ is exact, as desired.
 

FAQ: Is the Tensor Product of Flat Modules Flat?

What is the definition of a tensor product?

A tensor product is a mathematical operation that combines two vector spaces to create a new vector space. It is denoted by the symbol ⊗ and is used to represent the space of all possible combinations of the elements from the two original vector spaces.

What does it mean for a module to be flat?

A module is said to be flat if it preserves exact sequences. This means that if we have an exact sequence of modules, the tensor product of any of these modules with the flat module will also be exact.

How is the tensor product of flat modules related to flatness?

The tensor product of flat modules is also flat. This means that if we have two flat modules, their tensor product will also be flat. This property is known as the flatness of the tensor product.

Can a tensor product of non-flat modules be flat?

Yes, it is possible for the tensor product of non-flat modules to be flat. This can happen when the non-flat modules cancel each other out in a way that the resulting tensor product becomes flat. However, this is not always the case and it is not easy to determine when this happens.

Why is the flatness of the tensor product of modules important?

The flatness of the tensor product of modules is important because it allows us to extend exact sequences of modules. This is a useful tool in many areas of mathematics, including algebraic geometry and commutative algebra. It also has applications in other fields such as physics and engineering.

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