W2 Lec 2 Mapping theorems

Theorem: Mapping properties of quotient rings

Let φ : R → R ' be a ring homomorphism. Let I ⊆ R be an ideal.

a) Suppose that I ⊆ker ( φ ). Then there exists a unique homomorphism φ́ : R / I → R' s.t.
φ́ ∘ Π =φ where Π is the canonical quotient map. (insert commutative diagram here)
b) (First isomorphism theorem) If φ : R → R ' is a surjective homomorphism and I =ker ( φ ),
'
then φ́ : R / I ≅ R is an isomorphism.
→

Proof: b) From part a) of the theorem, φ́ exists. To see that φ́ is injective, let a ∈ R be arbitrary.
Then

φ́ ( a+ I )=0 ⇔ φ́ ( Π ( a ) ) =0 ⇔ φ ( a )=0 ⇔ a∈ ker ( φ )=I ⇔ a+ I =0+ I

Thus φ́ is injective.

Next, since φ is surjective, φ́ is also surjective as ∀ a' ∈ R' ,∃ a ∈ Rs.t. φ ( a )=a' . Thus
'
φ́ ( a+ I )=φ ( a )=a .
Idea of the proof: the fact that I =ker ( φ ) means that I is the only equivalence class that is
mapped to 0 R , making φ́ injective.
'

Corollary: Let φ : R → R ' be a ring homomorphism. Then, as rings,

R / ker ( φ ) ≅ ℑ ( φ )= { φ ( a )|a ∈ R }.

Exercise: Show that ℑ ( φ ) is a subring of R' .

Remark: The quotient construction is important because quotient rings are usually new rings.
For example, C [ x , y ] / ( y2 −x3 +1 ) → ring of functions on an elliptic curve.

Theorem: Second and Third isomorphism theorems

Let R be a ring.

a) Suppose that I ⊆ R is an ideal and S ⊆ R is a subring. Then S+ I / I ≅ S / S ∩ I .

S+ I = { s+ a|s ∈ S , a ∈ I } , S ∩ I ={ a ∈ R|a ∈ S , a ∈ I }
Exercise: Check that S+ I is a ring.

Exercise: Check that S ∩ I is an ideal of S.

Exercise: Prove the statement

Note: S+ I / I ⊆ S/ I but not necessarily the other way around

b) Suppose that I , J ⊆ are ideals and I ⊆ J . Then ( R / I ) / ( J / I ) ≅ R / J

Proof: Consider the map φ : R / I → R / J , a+ I ↦a+ J .

To see that this map is well-defined: a+ I =a1 + I ⇒ a−a 1 ∈ I ⊆J ⇒ a+J =a1+ J .

Exercise: Check that φ is a ring homomorphism.

Now, to see surjectivity, φ ( a+ I )=a+ J . Next, if φ ( a+ I )=a+ J=0 ⇔ a ∈ J ⇔ a+ I ∈ J / I and so

ker ( φ )=J / I . Finally, applying the first isomorphism theorem, we get that ( R / I ) / ( J / I ) ≅ R / J .

Theorem: Correspondence theorem

Let φ : R → R ' be a surjective ring homomorphism. There is a bijective correspondence

{ Ideals of R containing ker ( φ ) } ≅ { Ideals of R ' }

↔

Let I ⊆ R be an ideal which contains ker ( φ ). Then we can define I ↦ φ ( I ) and I ' ↦ φ−1 ( I ' ) for the
inverse map. Moreover, if ker ( φ ) ⊆ I ⊆ R ,with I an ideal and I ' ⊆ R' s.t. φ ( I )=I ' then
R / I ≅ R' / I ' as rings.
Proof: Let I ⊆ R be an ideal containing ker ( φ ) and I ' ⊆ R' be an ideal. We want to show that the
correspondence is well-defined

1) φ ( I ) is an ideal of R'
2) φ−1 ( I ' ) is an ideal of R and ker ( φ ) ⊆ φ−1 ( I ' )

The map is indeed a correspondence

3) a) φ−1 ∘ φ ( I ) =I b) φ ∘ φ−1 ( I ' ) =I '

The final statement

4) If φ ( I )=I ' then R / I ≅ R' / I '

1) Let I ⊆ R be an ideal. We want to show that φ ( I ) ⊆ R' is an ideal.

 Closed under addition: for a , b ∈ I we have ⏟b ∈ φ ( I )

φ ( a )+ φ ( b )=φ a+
( )∈I

 Let a ∈ R and s ∈ I . Since φ is surjective, ∃ a∈ R such that

' '

a ' φ ( s )=φ ( a ) φ ( s )=φ as

⏟ ∈ φ (I )
( )
∈I

2) Let I ⊆ R be an ideal. We want to show that φ−1 ( I ' ) is an ideal of R which contains
' '

ker ( φ ).
φ ( a+ b )=φ
⏟ ( a) + φ
⏟ ( b) ∈ I '
 Closed under addition: let a , b ∈ φ−1 ( I ' ). We have . Thus
' '
∈I ∈I

a+ b ∈φ−1 ( I ' ).
φ( b) ∈ I '
φ (a ) ⏟
 Let a ∈ R ,b ∈ φ−1 ( I ' ). Then and so φ ( ab ) ∈ I ' or equivalently,
'
∈I

ab ∈ φ ( I ' ).−1
  Since 0 ∈ I ' , ker ( φ )=φ−1 ( 0 ) ⊆φ−1 ( I ' ).
3) Proving a)
 ⊇ Let a ∈ I . Then φ ( a ) ∈ φ ( I ) and thus, a ∈ φ−1 ∘φ ( I ). Therefore φ−1 ∘ φ ( I ) ⊇ I .
 ⊆ Let a ∈ φ−1 ∘φ ( I ). Then φ ( a ) ∈ φ ( I ) ⇒ φ ( a )=φ ( b ) for some b ∈ I ⇒
a−b ∈ ker ( φ ) ⊆I ⇒a−b=r for some r ∈ I ⇒ a=b+r ∈ I . Therefore a ∈ I and thus,
φ−1 ∘ φ ( I ) ⊆ I .
Alternate proof for 3): Suppose that φ ( I )=φ ( J ) where I , J are ideals of R which contain ker ( φ ).
We want to show that I =J . Via symmetry, we only need to show I ⊆ J . Let a ∈ I . Then
φ ( a ) ∈ φ ( I ) and thus φ ( a ) ∈ φ ( J ). Then ∃ j∈ J : φ ( a )=φ ( j ). Thus, φ ( a− j ) =0 or equivalently,
a− j ∈ ker ( φ ) ⊆ J . Therefore, a− j ∈ J and so a ∈ J .
Requirement: I needs to contain ker ( φ ) to ensure injectivity of the correspondence. There are
more ideals in R and thus, it is possible that many ideals of R is mapped to the same ideal in R'
under the map φ . Containment of ker ( φ ) is a condition which filters out exactly 1 ideal that will
be mapped to an ideal in R' .