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Free Modules 55 PDF

The document defines and discusses free modules. It provides the following key points: 1) A free module is an R-module that has a nonempty basis set X. The module is considered free on the set X. 2) Some authors consider the zero module to be a free module. Examples given of free modules include Z as a Z-module, Zn as a Zn-module, and Q as a Q-module. 3) Finite cyclic groups like Zm cannot be free Z-modules, as they have no basis elements. Infinitie cyclic groups like Z can be free Z-modules.

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96 views13 pages

Free Modules 55 PDF

The document defines and discusses free modules. It provides the following key points: 1) A free module is an R-module that has a nonempty basis set X. The module is considered free on the set X. 2) Some authors consider the zero module to be a free module. Examples given of free modules include Z as a Z-module, Zn as a Zn-module, and Q as a Q-module. 3) Finite cyclic groups like Zm cannot be free Z-modules, as they have no basis elements. Infinitie cyclic groups like Z can be free Z-modules.

Uploaded by

Lara Zuñiga
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Free Modules

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That is we can define free module as follows:
Definition Let F be an R-module. If F has a
nonempty basis X, then F is a free R-module on
the set X.

However, some authers consider the zero module a


free module as illustrated in the follwing first
example.

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Thus Z is free as Z-module and Zn is free as Zn-
module. Also Q is a free Q-module.

3. n Z= (n) is free as Z-module. Since X = {n}


spans n Z as a Z-module. Also nm = 0 for m Z
implies m = 0 as . Hence { n } is a basis for
n Z. Thus if A is an infinite cyclic group then A is
free as a Z-module.

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6. Consider Q as a Z-module. Let p/q, r/t Q be
two distinct elements. Then
(q r) (p/q ) + (−p t) (r/t) = 0. Hence { p/q , r/t } is
not linearly independent. Hence the only linearly
independent subsets of Q are singletons. Thus if Q
admits a basis, then Q = < p/q >, which is a
contradiction as Q is not cyclic as an Abelian group
under addition. Hence Q as a Z-module is not free.

7. Zm for m N is not free as Z-module.


Because if a Zm, then ma = 0 , but m ≠ 0 in Z.
Thus Zm has no basis elements and hence cannot be
free. Thus if A is a finite cyclic group then A
cannot be free as a Z-module.

Remark A submodule of a free R-module needs


not be a free R-module. For example, Z6 is a free
Z6-module, but 2Z6 ={ 0, 2, 4 } is not free as Z6-
module since 2(3)=0, but 3 ≠ 0 in Z6 .

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Remark: Note that the basis is not unique since the
sets {(1,0), (0,1)} and {(1,1),(1,0)} are two
different bases for R2 . One can ask about the
cardinality of the different bases for a free module.
In the case of free abelian groups (Z-modules) we
know that any two bases of a free Z-module have
the same cardinality. Unfortunately, this is not true
for free modules over arbitrary rings with identity
as we will see in the example below. First note that

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However, the following result is satisfied
Theorem. Let R be a ring with identity and F a free
R-module with an infinite basis X . Then every
basis of F is infinite and has the same cardinality as
X.
Proof. If Y is another basis of F, then we claim that
Y is infinite. Suppose on the contrary that Y were
finite. Since Y generates F and every element of Y
is a linear combination of a finite number of
elements of X, it follows that there is a finite
subset{ x1, … , xm }of X, which generates F. Since
X is infinite, there exists x X - { x1, … , xm }.
Then for some ri R, x = r1 x1, … , rm xm, which
contradicts the linear independence of X.
Therefore, Y is infinite.
( complete the proof, see Hungerford Theorem 2.6.
page 184 ).

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