Module 2
Topic 2
Submodules and Direct Sum:
Definition 1. A non empty subset N of an R-module M is called an R-submodule or a submodule of
M if
(i)
a b N a, b N .
(ii) ra N r R, a N .
In other words, a submodule of M is an additive subgroup of M which is closed under multiplication by
elements of R in M . It is easy to see that a submodule is an R-module in its own right. If R is a field
then N is called a subspace of M .
Examples:
1. Clearly, (0) and M are submodules of an R-module M .
2. Any left(right) ideal of a ring R is a submodule of the left(right) R-module R R.
3. Let M be an R-module and let m M . Then Rm = {rm|r R} is a submodule of M , as
rm sm = (r s)m Rm and s(rm) = (sr)m Rm.
4. Let {Ni }iI be a family of submodules of an R-module M . Then it is easy to see that
Ni is a
iI
submodule of M .
Definition 2. Let X be a subset of an R-module M . Then the intersection of all submodules of M
containing X is called the submodule generated by X, denoted by hXi. Thus
hXi =
{N |X N and N is a submodule of M}
Since X M , the right hand side is non-empty. X is called a generating set of hXi.
Definition 3. A module M is called finitely generated if M = hx1 , x2 , . . . , xn i for some xi M , i.e., M
is generated by a finite set.
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Definition 4. An R-module M is called a cyclic module if M = hxi for some x M .
Theorem Let M be an R-module such that M = hx1 , x2 , . . . , xn i. Then
( n
)
n
X
X
M=
ri xi |ri R =
Rxi .
i=1
Proof. Let N =
n
X
i=1
Rxi . Let x, y N
i=1
x=
ri xi , y =
xy =
si xi
P
(ri si )xi N .
Also for r R, rx =
P
(rri )xi N . Hence N is a submodule of M containing {x1 , x2 , . . . , xn }.
Since M is the smallest submodule of M containing this set, M = N .
Definition 5. Let M be an R-module and let {Ni }iI be a family of submodules of M . Then the
[
submodule of M generated by
Ni is called the sum of submodules Ni , i I and is denoted by
iI
Ni .
iI
Theorem Let {Ni }iI be a family of submodules
M . Then
of an R-module
X
X
Ni =
xi |xi Ni .
iI
Proof. Let N = {
f inite
xi |xi Ni }. Let x, y N which implies x =
xi , y =
i=1
f inite
and yi0 s may be 0), xi , yi Ni , n m
xy
=
=
n
X
i=1
n
X
xi
m
X
rxi
m
X
yi (some of the x0i s
i=1
yi
i=1
(xi yi ) +
m
X
(yi ) N
n+1
i=1
For r R, rx =
n
X
N as rxi Ni . Hence N is a submodule of M . Clearly, each
S
Ni N
Ni N .
X
P
P
P
Also
xi Ni , as xi Ni
Ni . Hence N
Ni . Since
Ni is the smallest submodule
f inite
of M containing
Ni , we obtain N =
Ni .
iI
Definition 6. Let {Ni }iI be a family of submodules of an R-module M . Then
Ni is called a direct
iI
sum or internal direct sum of Ni s if every m
Ni can be uniquely written as m =
xi , where
iI
xi Ni and xi = 0 except for finitely many i I. Direct sum is denoted by
Ni .
iI
Definition 7. A submodule N of an R-module M is called a direct summand of M , if there exists a
submodule N 0 of M such that M = N N 0 .
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Theorem Let {Ni }iI be a family of submodules of an R-module M . Then the following are equivalent
P
(i)
Ni is a direct sum
X
(ii) If
xi = 0, xi Ni , then xi = 0 i
f inite
(iii) Nj
TX
Ni = (0), j I.
i6=j
Proof. (i)(ii)
Suppose
Ni is a direct sum and
xi = 0 =
iI
0. Since
xi has a unique representation,
xi = 0 i.
(ii)(iii)
Let x Nj
TX
Ni . Then x = xj =
xi .
f inite, i 6= j
xi xj = 0. By (ii) xi = 0 i.
i6=j
X
i6=j
x = xj = 0.
(iii)(i)
P
P
P
Let x Ni such that x = xi = yi xi , yi Ni . Then i6=j (xi yi ) = (xj yj ).
TX
xj yj Nj
Ni = (0).
i6=j
xj = yj . As j was arbitrary, xi = yi i. The family of submodules {Ni }iI of M satisfying
any of the above conditions are said to be an independent family of submodules of M .
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