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Derived Functors
1 · Prerequisites
- Abelian Categories
- Adjunctions Units and Counits
- Binary Operations, Monoids, Groups and Subgroups
- Cardinal Arithmetic, Cofinality and the Alephs
- Categories, Functors and Natural Transformations
- Chain Complexes and Homology
- Chain Homotopy and the Homotopy Category
- Compactness in Metric Spaces
- Construction of the Natural Numbers
- Construction of the Real Numbers via Cauchy Sequences
- Construction of the Real Numbers via Dedekind Cuts
- Cosets, Index and Lagrange's Theorem
- Countability and Uncountability
- Exactness and the Member Calculus
- Finite Counting, Factorials and Binomial Coefficients
- Foundations of the Real Numbers for Analysis
- Free Modules, Exact Sequences, Projective and Injective Modules
- Limits and Colimits
- Long Exact Sequences in Homology
- Modules, Submodules, Quotient Modules and the Isomorphism Theorems
- Normal Subgroups and Quotient Groups
- Order, Zorn's Lemma, and the Axiom of Choice
- Ordinal Arithmetic and the First Uncountable Ordinal
- Ordinals, Cardinals, and Transfinite Recursion
- Preadditive and Additive Categories and Biproducts
- Projective and Injective Resolutions
- Reflective Subcategories and the Adjoint Functor Theorems
- Relations, Functions, and Quotients
- Rings, Subrings, Integral Domains and Fields
- Sequences and Limits
- Set Theory Beyond Choice: Recorded, Not Proved Here
- Subobject Lattices Generators and the Grothendieck Axioms
- Suprema and Infima
- The Diagram Lemmas in an Abelian Category
- The ZFC Axioms and the Basic Set Constructions
- Universal Properties, Representables and the Yoneda Lemma
2 · Summary
This page builds derived functors only relative to displayed projective or injective resolution data. The object definitions, map definitions, functoriality, and change-of-data isomorphisms are kept separate, so the phrase "well defined" does not hide any missing choice, comparison, or naturality step.
The second half of the page records the main usable consequences that do belong at this stage: degree-zero recovery, vanishing on projectives or injectives, acyclic-resolution computation, the exact-functor and finite-biproduct corollaries, and the variance bridge to the opposite category. The long exact sequence and universality structure remain deferred to the next page.
3 · Logical flowchart
4 · Definitions, theorems and proofs
Supplied projective resolution data
Definition
Let be an abelian category, and let be a class of objects of .
A supplied projective resolution datum on assigns to each a specific projective resolution in the sense of Projective resolutions in an abelian category.
This is extra structure on the chosen domain of objects. It records displayed resolutions objectwise; it does not assert that such a choice exists canonically for all objects of .
Supplied injective resolution data
Definition
Let be an abelian category, and let be a class of objects of .
A supplied injective resolution datum on assigns to each a specific injective resolution in the sense of Injective resolutions in an abelian category.
Again this is part of the input data. It keeps the chosen coaugmented resolutions visible rather than hiding a global selection claim in the background.
Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data
Definition
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class of objects in an abelian category , and let be an additive functor to an abelian category .
For and , the th left derived object of relative to at is where is the deleted resolution from Deleted resolutions.
No exactness hypothesis on is needed for this definition. The datum supplies the chosen resolution whose image under is being measured by homology.
Right derived objects relative to supplied injective resolution data
Definition
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class of objects in an abelian category , and let be an additive functor to an abelian category .
For and , the th right derived object of relative to at is where is the deleted injective resolution from Deleted resolutions.
The superscript records the supplied injective datum. This page keeps that data visible instead of suppressing it into an unstated global choice.
Negative derived degrees vanish for one-sided resolutions
Statement
Let and be supplied projective and injective resolution data, and let be an additive functor.
If , then for every object in the common domain,
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An object and an integer .
The object is the homology of the deleted projective resolution in degree (Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data).
The object is the cohomology of the deleted injective resolution in degree (Right derived objects relative to supplied injective resolution data).
Proof
By [L1], the complex computing is zero in every negative degree, because a deleted projective resolution is supported only in nonnegative homological degrees. Therefore both its degree- cycle object and its degree- boundary object are zero, so .
By [L2], the cochain complex computing is zero in every negative cohomological degree, because a deleted injective resolution begins in degree . Hence its degree- cocycle and coboundary objects are zero, so .
Steps 1.1 and 1.2 prove the claimed vanishing for both one-sided derived constructions.
A morphism has a comparison lift between the supplied projective resolutions
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class in an abelian category. For every morphism with , there exists an augmentation-preserving chain map lifting .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A morphism with .
The datum supplies specific projective resolutions and (Supplied projective resolution data).
Assuming Dependent Choice, projective comparison maps exist for any morphism between resolved objects (Projective comparison maps exist).
Proof
By [L1], the objects and come with chosen projective resolutions.
Apply [L2] to and the chosen resolutions from step 1.1. This yields an augmentation-preserving chain map lifting .
The induced homology map is independent of the chosen comparison lift
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum and an additive functor. If is a morphism and are two comparison lifts of , then for every the induced maps on homology are equal.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A morphism and two comparison lifts of .
Two comparison maps lifting the same morphism are chain-homotopic (Projective comparison maps are unique up to chain homotopy).
A chain homotopy is given by equations of the form (A chain homotopy).
Additive functors preserve sums and zero morphisms (Additive functor, An additive functor preserves zero morphisms).
Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology (Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology).
The objects and are the homology objects of the deleted resolutions after applying (Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data).
Proof
By [L1], the two lifts and are chain-homotopic. Let be such a homotopy.
The equations in [L2] become after applying , because [L3] lets preserve sums and zero morphisms. Hence is a chain homotopy from to .
By [L4], chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology. Using [L5] to identify those homology objects with the displayed left derived objects gives for every .
The left derived map relative to supplied resolution data
Definition
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class in an abelian category , let be an additive functor to an abelian category , let , and let . For a morphism , choose any comparison lift
The left derived map of in degree relative to is the induced map on homology
By A morphism has a comparison lift between the supplied projective resolutions such a lift exists, and by The induced homology map is independent of the chosen comparison lift the result does not depend on which lift was chosen.
Left derived maps preserve identities
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class and an additive functor between abelian categories. For every object and every ,
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An object and an integer .
The map is defined from any comparison lift of the identity on the chosen resolution of (The left derived map relative to supplied resolution data).
Any comparison map lifting is homotopic to the identity chain map (Comparison of the identity is homotopic to the identity).
Homology sends the identity chain map to the identity and respects composition (Homology respects identities and composition).
Proof
Let be any comparison lift of used in [L1]. By [L2], is homotopic to the identity chain map on the chosen projective resolution of .
Applying preserves that homotopy relation as in the construction of the left derived map, so the induced map on homology agrees with the map from the identity chain map. By [L3], that latter map is . Therefore .
Left derived maps preserve composition
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class and an additive functor between abelian categories. For composable morphisms with and every ,
Facts & Assumptions
Given: Composable morphisms with and an integer .
Each derived map is induced from a comparison lift on the supplied resolutions (The left derived map relative to supplied resolution data).
A comparison lift of a composite is homotopic to the composite of comparison lifts (Comparison maps respect composition up to homotopy).
Chain-homotopic maps induce the same homology map (Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology).
Homology respects composition (Homology respects identities and composition).
Proof
Choose comparison lifts of , of , and of as in [L1]. By [L2], is homotopic to .
After applying , [L3] makes the induced homology map of equal to that of . By [L4], the latter equals the composite of the maps induced by and . Translating back through [L1] gives .
Left derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum and an additive functor between abelian categories. For every , the assignments define an additive functor on the domain of .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An integer .
Left derived maps preserve identities (Left derived maps preserve identities).
Left derived maps preserve composition (Left derived maps preserve composition).
The category of complexes in an additive category is additive, so comparison lifts can be added degreewise (The category of complexes in an additive category is additive).
Two comparison lifts of the same morphism are chain-homotopic (Projective comparison maps are unique up to chain homotopy).
Applying degreewise preserves chain maps, and homology is an additive functor on complexes (An additive functor applies degreewise to complexes and chain maps, Homology is an additive functor).
Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology (Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology).
An additive functor is a functor that is additive on each hom-group (Additive functor).
Proof
By [L1] and [L2], the assignments and already form a functor.
Let . Choose comparison lifts and . By [L3], their degreewise sum is again a chain map, and it lifts because augmentations are additive. Thus it is a comparison lift of .
By definition of the derived map and [L5], If a different comparison lift of were chosen, [L4] and [L6] would give the same homology map. Hence
Step 1.1 gives functoriality, and step 2.1 gives additivity on each hom-group. Therefore [L7] identifies as an additive functor.
A morphism has a comparison extension between the supplied injective resolutions
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class in an abelian category. For every morphism with , there exists a coaugmentation-preserving cochain map extending .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A morphism with .
The datum supplies specific injective resolutions and (Supplied injective resolution data).
Assuming Dependent Choice, injective comparison maps exist for morphisms between chosen injective resolutions (Injective comparison maps exist).
Proof
By [L1], the objects and come with chosen injective resolutions.
Apply [L2] to and the resolutions from step 1.1. The resulting coaugmentation-preserving cochain map is the required comparison extension.
The induced cohomology map is independent of the chosen injective comparison extension
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum and an additive functor. If is a morphism and are two injective comparison extensions of , then for every the induced maps on cohomology are equal.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A morphism and two comparison extensions of .
Two injective comparison maps extending the same morphism are cochain-homotopic (Injective comparison maps are unique up to cochain homotopy).
A cochain complex is read as a reindexed chain complex by reversing the grading sign (Cochain complex in an abelian category).
A chain homotopy is an equation of the form (A chain homotopy).
Additive functors preserve sums and zero morphisms (Additive functor, An additive functor preserves zero morphisms).
Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology (Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology).
The objects and are the cohomology objects of the deleted injective resolutions after applying (Right derived objects relative to supplied injective resolution data).
Proof
By [L1], the two comparison extensions are cochain-homotopic. Using [L2], read that cochain homotopy as a chain homotopy after reindexing the complexes.
Applying to the homotopy equations from [L3] preserves their sum-and- zero form by [L4]. Hence the two reindexed chain maps and remain chain-homotopic.
By [L5], these two maps induce the same homology map on the reindexed complexes. Translating back through [L2] and [L6], that is exactly equality of the induced maps on cohomology .
The right derived map relative to supplied resolution data
Definition
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class in an abelian category , let be an additive functor to an abelian category , let , and let . For a morphism , choose any injective comparison extension
The right derived map of in degree relative to is the induced map on cohomology
Existence of comes from A morphism has a comparison extension between the supplied injective resolutions, and independence of the chosen extension comes from The induced cohomology map is independent of the chosen injective comparison extension.
Right derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum and an additive functor between abelian categories. For every , the assignments define an additive functor on the domain of .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An integer .
Right derived maps are defined from injective comparison extensions (The right derived map relative to supplied resolution data).
The cochain comparison-extension construction is available for every morphism, and its induced cohomology map is independent of the chosen extension (A morphism has a comparison extension between the supplied injective resolutions, The induced cohomology map is independent of the chosen injective comparison extension).
A cochain complex may be reindexed as a chain complex (Cochain complex in an abelian category).
The category of complexes in an additive category is additive, and additive functors apply degreewise to chain maps (The category of complexes in an additive category is additive, An additive functor applies degreewise to complexes and chain maps).
Two injective comparison extensions of the same morphism are cochain-homotopic, and after reindexing chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology (Injective comparison maps are unique up to cochain homotopy, Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology).
An additive functor is a functor that is additive on each hom-group (Additive functor).
Proof
Identity and composition are proved exactly as on the projective side: choose comparison extensions for the relevant morphisms, compare the extension of a composite or identity with the obvious chain-level candidate, and use [L5] after reindexing by [L3]. Therefore the assignments in [L1] form a functor.
Let . Choose comparison extensions and . By [L4], their degreewise sum is a cochain map and extends , so it is a comparison extension of .
Reindexing by [L3], applying degreewise by [L4], and using homotopy invariance from [L5], the induced cohomology map of equals the sum of the induced cohomology maps of and . Hence
Steps 1.1 and 2.1 give the functoriality and hom-group additivity required by [L6]. Therefore is an additive functor.
A natural transformation induces natural transformations of left derived functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum, let be additive functors between abelian categories, and let be a natural transformation. Then for every the maps define a natural transformation
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An integer .
A natural transformation is a family of components satisfying the naturality equation on every morphism (Natural transformation and its components).
Additive functors apply degreewise to complexes and chain maps (An additive functor applies degreewise to complexes and chain maps).
Every chain map induces a well-defined map on homology (A chain map induces a well-defined map on homology).
The left derived maps are the homology maps induced from comparison lifts (The left derived map relative to supplied resolution data).
The source and target assignments are already functors (Left derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
Proof
For each object , the components form a chain map because [L1] makes them commute with each differential of the chosen deleted resolution.
By [L3], step 1.1 induces a morphism for each .
Let , and choose a comparison lift . Naturality in [L1] gives for every degree , so the square of chain maps commutes. Passing to homology and using [L4] gives Thus the components from step 2.1 are natural.
A natural transformation induces natural transformations of right derived functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum, let be additive functors, and let be a natural transformation. Then for every the maps define a natural transformation
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An integer .
A natural transformation is objectwise and satisfies the naturality equation on every morphism (Natural transformation and its components).
A cochain complex is read as a reindexed chain complex (Cochain complex in an abelian category).
Additive functors apply degreewise to chain maps, and every chain map induces a homology map (An additive functor applies degreewise to complexes and chain maps, A chain map induces a well-defined map on homology).
Right derived maps are induced by comparison extensions on the chosen injective resolutions (The right derived map relative to supplied resolution data).
The source and target assignments are already functors (Right derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
Proof
For each object , the components commute with the cochain differentials by [L1], so they form a cochain map . Reindexing by [L2] turns this into a chain map.
By [L3], step 1.1 induces a map on homology of the reindexed complexes, hence on cohomology: .
Let , and choose a comparison extension . Naturality in [L1] gives degreewise commutative squares with the maps and . Passing to cohomology and translating through [L4] gives Thus the components from step 2.1 are natural.
Objectwise comparison of two projective resolution data induces an isomorphism on derived objects
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let and be supplied projective resolution data on the same domain, and let be an additive functor between abelian categories. For every object in the common domain and every , there is an isomorphism induced by a comparison map between the chosen resolutions of .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An object in the common domain and an integer .
The data and supply specific projective resolutions of (Supplied projective resolution data).
Any two projective resolutions of the same object are homotopy equivalent over that object (Projective resolutions of the same object are homotopy equivalent over that object).
Chain-homotopic maps induce the same homology map, and homology respects composition (Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology, Homology respects identities and composition).
The derived objects are the homology objects of the chosen deleted resolutions after applying (Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data).
Proof
By [L1] and [L2], there exist comparison maps and whose composites are homotopic to the identity chain maps on the two resolutions.
Apply degreewise and pass to homology. By [L3], the induced maps and are inverse because their composites equal the homology maps of chain maps homotopic to the identities. Using [L4], this yields the claimed isomorphism .
The change-of-projective-resolution isomorphisms are natural
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
With the notation of Objectwise comparison of two projective resolution data induces an isomorphism on derived objects, the isomorphisms are natural in .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A morphism and an integer .
The supplied projective data admit comparison lifts of on both sides (A morphism has a comparison lift between the supplied projective resolutions).
The objectwise comparison maps induce isomorphisms on derived objects (Objectwise comparison of two projective resolution data induces an isomorphism on derived objects).
Two projective comparison maps lifting the same morphism are chain-homotopic, and chain-homotopic maps induce the same homology map (Projective comparison maps are unique up to chain homotopy, Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology).
Proof
Choose objectwise comparison maps and that define the isomorphisms in [L2], and choose comparison lifts and from [L1].
Both composites and are comparison maps from to lifting the same morphism , so [L3] makes them chain-homotopic. Passing to homology gives Therefore the family is natural.
Two supplied projective resolution data define naturally isomorphic left derived functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let and be supplied projective resolution data on the same domain, and let be an additive functor. For every , the additive functors and are naturally isomorphic.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An integer .
Both constructions define additive functors (Left derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
For each object, objectwise comparison of the two chosen resolutions induces an isomorphism on derived objects (Objectwise comparison of two projective resolution data induces an isomorphism on derived objects).
Those isomorphisms are natural in the object (The change-of-projective-resolution isomorphisms are natural).
Proof
By [L2], each object carries an isomorphism .
By [L3], the family from step 1.1 is natural. Together with [L1], this is exactly a natural isomorphism of additive functors .
Change-of-projective-resolution isomorphisms satisfy identity and cocycle laws
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be supplied projective resolution data on the same domain, and let be an additive functor between abelian categories. For each ordered pair among these data, let be the change-of-data natural isomorphism whose component at an object is induced by any comparison map lifting . Then:
- for every .
- for every .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An object in the common domain and an integer .
A comparison map between two supplied projective resolutions of induces the isomorphism , and these objectwise isomorphisms are natural in (Objectwise comparison of two projective resolution data induces an isomorphism on derived objects, The change-of-projective-resolution isomorphisms are natural).
Two projective comparison maps lifting the same morphism are chain-homotopic (Projective comparison maps are unique up to chain homotopy).
Chain-homotopic maps induce the same homology map, and homology respects composition (Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology, Homology respects identities and composition).
Proof
For the pair , one valid comparison map is the identity chain map on . Any comparison map used to define also lifts , so [L2] makes it homotopic to the identity chain map. By [L3], the induced homology map is therefore the identity on .
For the triple , the chain map defining is the composite of two comparison maps lifting . The chain map defining is another comparison map lifting . By [L2] they are homotopic, so [L3] gives equality of the induced homology maps:
Since was arbitrary, steps 1.1 and 1.2 prove the identity and cocycle laws for the natural isomorphisms.
Two supplied injective resolution data define naturally isomorphic right derived functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let and be supplied injective resolution data on the same domain, and let be an additive functor. For every , the additive functors and are naturally isomorphic.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A morphism and an integer .
The two constructions define additive functors (Right derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
The chosen injective resolutions of a fixed object are homotopy equivalent under that object (Injective resolutions of the same object are homotopy equivalent under that object).
Two injective comparison maps extending the same morphism are cochain-homotopic (Injective comparison maps are unique up to cochain homotopy).
A cochain complex is read as a reindexed chain complex, and chain-homotopy invariance together with homology's compatibility with composition survives that reindexing (Cochain complex in an abelian category, Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology, Homology respects identities and composition).
Comparison extensions exist for morphisms on the supplied injective data (A morphism has a comparison extension between the supplied injective resolutions).
Proof
Fix an object . By [L2], there are comparison maps and whose composites are cochain- homotopic to the identities. Using [L4], these induce inverse isomorphisms
For a morphism , choose comparison extensions and from [L5]. Both composites and extend , so [L3] makes them cochain-homotopic. By [L4], their induced cohomology maps agree, which is exactly the naturality square
Steps 1.1 and 2.1 produce a natural isomorphism , and [L1] records that both sides are additive functors.
Change-of-injective-resolution isomorphisms satisfy identity and cocycle laws
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be supplied injective resolution data on the same domain, and let be an additive functor between abelian categories. For each ordered pair among these data, let be the change-of-data natural isomorphism whose component at an object is induced by any comparison extension of . Then:
- for every .
- for every .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An object in the common domain and an integer .
The chosen injective resolutions of the same object are homotopy equivalent under that object (Injective resolutions of the same object are homotopy equivalent under that object).
Two injective comparison maps extending the same morphism are cochain-homotopic (Injective comparison maps are unique up to cochain homotopy).
Reindexing turns cochain homotopies into chain homotopies, and homology then respects both homotopy and composition (Cochain complex in an abelian category, Chain-homotopic maps induce the same map on homology, Homology respects identities and composition).
Comparison extensions exist for morphisms between objects in the domain of each supplied injective datum (A morphism has a comparison extension between the supplied injective resolutions).
Proof
For any ordered pair , [L1] gives comparison extensions and of . Their composites extend , so [L2] and [L3] show that the induced cohomology maps are inverse. Any other choice of extends the same identity and hence induces the same map. For a morphism , choose within-data comparison extensions using [L4]. The two composites from to both extend , so [L2] and [L3] give the naturality square. Thus the displayed construction specifies a well-defined natural isomorphism .
For the pair , the identity cochain map on is a comparison extension of . Any comparison extension used in step 1.1 to define extends the same identity morphism, so [L2] makes it cochain-homotopic to the identity. By [L3], the induced map on cohomology is therefore the identity on .
For the triple , the cochain map defining is the composite of two comparison extensions of , while the map defining is another comparison extension of . By [L2] these are cochain-homotopic, so [L3] gives
Since was arbitrary, steps 2.1 and 2.2 prove the identity and cocycle laws for the natural isomorphisms constructed in step 1.1.
Derived functors are well defined relative to supplied resolution data
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice. Derived functors are well defined here in a specific seven-part sense, and each part is now on the page rather than being collapsed into one slogan:
- supplied resolutions give the object assignments;
- comparison maps or extensions exist for each morphism (A morphism has a comparison lift between the supplied projective resolutions, A morphism has a comparison extension between the supplied injective resolutions);
- the induced map is independent of the chosen lift (The induced homology map is independent of the chosen comparison lift, The induced cohomology map is independent of the chosen injective comparison extension);
- those maps preserve identities (Left derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors, Right derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors);
- those maps preserve composition (Left derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors, Right derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors);
- changing the supplied data yields a natural isomorphism (Two supplied projective resolution data define naturally isomorphic left derived functors, Two supplied injective resolution data define naturally isomorphic right derived functors); and
- those change-of-data isomorphisms satisfy identity and cocycle laws (Change-of-projective-resolution isomorphisms satisfy identity and cocycle laws, Change-of-injective-resolution isomorphisms satisfy identity and cocycle laws).
What this remark does not claim is a global theorem saying that enough projectives or enough injectives canonically choose one resolution for every object. The present conclusions are relative to displayed supplied data, and two different data are compared by natural isomorphism rather than by an unstated class-sized choice.
The zero-th left derived functor of a right exact functor recovers the functor
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class , and let be an additive right exact functor between abelian categories. Then for every there is a canonical isomorphism natural in .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An object .
The chosen projective resolution of is an exact augmented complex (Projective resolutions in an abelian category).
The zeroth homology of the deleted complex is the cokernel of the boundary map into degree (Homology object of a chain complex).
Right exactness means that preserves the cokernel appearing at the end of the displayed augmented resolution (Left exact and right exact functors).
The assignments are already functorial (Left derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
Proof
By [L1], the morphism is exact. Applying and using [L3] gives an exact sequence Hence is the cokernel of .
By [L2], that same cokernel is exactly . Therefore there is a canonical isomorphism .
The construction in steps 1.1 and 2.1 is functorial in , and [L4] already supplies the functoriality of . Thus the isomorphism is natural in .
The zero-th right derived functor of a left exact functor recovers the functor
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class , and let be an additive left exact functor between abelian categories. Then for every there is a canonical isomorphism natural in .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An object .
The chosen injective resolution of is an exact coaugmented complex (Injective resolutions in an abelian category).
The zeroth cohomology object is the quotient of the kernel of by the zero-th coboundary, which is (Cohomology object of a cochain complex).
Left exactness means that preserves the kernel at the beginning of the displayed injective resolution (Left exact and right exact functors).
The assignments are already functorial (Right derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
Proof
By [L1], the morphism is exact. Applying and using [L3] gives an exact sequence Therefore .
By [L2], the zeroth cohomology of is that kernel, because the zero-th coboundary object is . Hence .
Step 2.1 is natural in , and [L4] records the functoriality of . Therefore the displayed isomorphism is natural.
Positive left derived functors vanish on projective objects
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class and an additive functor between abelian categories. If is a projective object, then for every ,
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A projective object and an integer .
Every projective object admits a length-zero projective resolution (A projective object has a length-zero projective resolution).
Changing the supplied projective resolution datum changes the derived objects only by natural isomorphism (Two supplied projective resolution data define naturally isomorphic left derived functors).
The left derived object is the homology of the deleted chosen resolution (Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data).
Proof
By [L1], the object has a projective resolution concentrated in degree . Its deleted complex therefore has only one nonzero term, namely in degree .
Let be the supplied projective resolution datum on the same domain as that agrees with away from and assigns the length-zero resolution from step 1.1 to . By [L2], the derived object computed from is isomorphic to the one computed from . By [L3], the deleted resolution in is the one-term complex from step 1.1, whose homology is zero in every positive degree. Hence for .
Positive right derived functors vanish on injective objects
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class and an additive functor between abelian categories. If is an injective object, then for every ,
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An injective object and an integer .
An injective resolution is a coaugmented exact complex of injectives (Injective resolutions in an abelian category).
The object is injective (Injective object).
Changing the supplied injective resolution datum changes the derived objects only by natural isomorphism (Two supplied injective resolution data define naturally isomorphic right derived functors).
The right derived object is the cohomology of the deleted chosen resolution after applying (Right derived objects relative to supplied injective resolution data).
Proof
The coaugmented complex is exact and all its terms are injective by [L2], so [L1] makes it an injective resolution of . After applying , its deleted cochain complex has only one nonzero term, namely in degree .
Let be the supplied injective resolution datum on the same domain as that agrees with away from and assigns the trivial injective resolution from step 1.1 to . By [L3], the right derived object computed from is isomorphic to the one computed from . By [L4], the complex computing is the one-term complex from step 1.1, whose cohomology is zero in every positive degree. Hence for .
An acyclic object for a left exact functor
Definition
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class , and let be an additive left exact functor between abelian categories.
An object is -acyclic if
If is another supplied injective resolution datum on the same domain and one assumes the Axiom of Dependent Choice, then Two supplied injective resolution data define naturally isomorphic right derived functors gives natural isomorphisms for every . Under that additional hypothesis, this vanishing condition is independent of the chosen supplied injective datum.
An acyclic object for a right exact functor
Definition
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class , and let be an additive right exact functor between abelian categories.
An object is -acyclic if
If is another supplied projective resolution datum on the same domain and one assumes the Axiom of Dependent Choice, then Two supplied projective resolution data define naturally isomorphic left derived functors gives natural isomorphisms for every . Under that additional hypothesis, this vanishing condition is independent of the chosen supplied projective datum.
An F-acyclic resolution
Definition
Let be an additive functor between abelian categories.
- If is left exact and is a supplied injective resolution datum on a class , an -acyclic resolution of relative to is a coaugmented exact complex such that every lies in and is -acyclic in the sense of An acyclic object for a left exact functor.
- If is right exact and is a supplied projective resolution datum on a class , an -acyclic resolution of relative to is an augmented exact complex such that every lies in and is -acyclic in the sense of An acyclic object for a right exact functor.
Thus the phrase keeps both the resolution orientation and the chosen supplied datum visible.
The acyclic-resolution theorem for right derived functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class , let be an additive left exact functor, and let be an -acyclic resolution of relative to . Assume moreover that and that, for and each lies in . Then for every there is a canonical isomorphism
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An -acyclic resolution of relative to , the associated objects , and an integer .
An -acyclic resolution is an exact coaugmented complex whose terms are -acyclic objects (An F-acyclic resolution, An acyclic object for a left exact functor).
The zero-th right derived functor of a left exact functor recovers the functor (The zero-th right derived functor of a left exact functor recovers the functor).
Change of supplied injective resolution data produces natural isomorphisms of right derived functors (Two supplied injective resolution data define naturally isomorphic right derived functors).
Passing to the opposite abelian category and applying the projective horseshoe lemma produces injective resolutions of a short exact sequence in a degreewise split short exact sequence of cochain complexes (The opposite of an abelian category is abelian, The horseshoe lemma for projective resolutions).
A short exact sequence of cochain complexes yields a long exact sequence in cohomology (The long exact sequence in cohomology).
An additive functor preserves finite biproducts (An additive functor preserves finite biproducts), and therefore preserves split short exact sequences.
Proof
By exactness in [L1], let and for each let fit into a short exact sequence Every is -acyclic by [L1].
Apply [L4] to each short exact sequence from step 1.1 using the supplied injective resolutions of and , which exist by the domain hypothesis in the statement. The result is a degreewise split short exact sequence of injective resolutions. By [L6], applying preserves its degreewise exactness, so [L5] gives a long exact cohomology sequence. The middle injective resolution supplied by the horseshoe construction may differ from the one fixed for , but [L3] identifies their right derived objects. Its higher cohomology therefore vanishes because is -acyclic. Using [L2] for degree , we obtain exact sequences and isomorphisms
Repeatedly applying the isomorphisms from step 2.1 gives
For , the exact sequence from step 2.1 shows that the th cohomology of is the cokernel of . The same step identifies that cokernel with , so step 3.1 gives
For , step 2.1 with gives exact, so . By [L2], . Together with step 4.1, this proves the theorem for all .
The acyclic-resolution theorem for left derived functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class , let be an additive right exact functor, and let be an -acyclic resolution of relative to . Assume moreover that and that, for and each lies in . Then for every there is a canonical isomorphism
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An -acyclic resolution of relative to , the associated objects , and an integer .
An -acyclic resolution is an exact augmented complex whose terms are -acyclic objects (An F-acyclic resolution, An acyclic object for a right exact functor).
The zero-th left derived functor of a right exact functor recovers the functor (The zero-th left derived functor of a right exact functor recovers the functor).
Change of supplied projective resolution data produces canonical natural isomorphisms of left derived functors (Two supplied projective resolution data define naturally isomorphic left derived functors).
Projective resolutions of a short exact sequence can be arranged into a short exact sequence of chain complexes by the projective horseshoe lemma (The horseshoe lemma for projective resolutions).
A short exact sequence of chain complexes yields a long exact sequence in homology (The long exact sequence in homology).
Proof
By exactness in [L1], let and for each let fit into a short exact sequence Every is -acyclic by [L1].
Apply [L4] to each short exact sequence from step 1.1 using the supplied projective resolutions of and , which exist by the domain hypothesis in the statement. The middle projective resolution from horseshoe need not be the supplied one for , but [L3] identifies the resulting left derived objects. After applying and [L5], the higher homology of the middle term vanishes because is -acyclic, while [L2] identifies the degree-zero term. Thus we obtain exact sequences and isomorphisms
Repeatedly applying the isomorphisms from step 2.1 gives
For , the exact sequence from step 2.1 shows that the quotient of by boundaries is , and the same step identifies the kernel of with . Therefore
For , right exactness gives , so . By [L2], . Together with step 4.1, this proves the theorem for all .
Adapted classes compute derived functors
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
- Let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class , and let be an additive left exact functor. Suppose is made of -acyclic objects, is closed under cokernels of monomorphisms between objects of , and every object of admits a monomorphism into an object of . Then any coaugmented resolution of an object obtained by iterating monomorphisms computes .
- Dually, let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class , let be additive and right exact, and suppose is made of -acyclic objects, is closed under kernels of epimorphisms between objects of , and every object of admits an epimorphism from an object of . Then any augmented resolution of an object obtained by iterating epimorphisms computes .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: One of the two clause-wise hypotheses from the statement.
Once the relevant supplied datum is fixed, an -acyclic resolution is exactly a resolution whose terms are -acyclic and whose orientation matches the side being derived (An F-acyclic resolution).
Such resolutions compute right derived functors (The acyclic-resolution theorem for right derived functors).
Such resolutions compute left derived functors (The acyclic-resolution theorem for left derived functors).
Proof
In the left exact case, start with . By hypothesis, every object of admits a monomorphism into an object of , so we may choose monomorphisms with and define to be the cokernel, still in . This produces an exact coaugmented resolution by objects of . Because every object of is -acyclic, [L1] identifies the result as an -acyclic resolution relative to .
The right exact case is dual: start with , repeatedly choose epimorphisms with , and define to be the kernel, still in . The resulting exact augmented resolution has all terms in , hence is an -acyclic resolution relative to by [L1].
Apply [L2] to the resolution from step 1.1 and [L3] to the resolution from step 1.2. This proves both clauses.
An exact functor has vanishing positive derived functors
Statement
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class , let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class , and let be an exact functor between abelian categories. Then for every and every , and for every and every ,
Facts & Assumptions
Given: An integer , an object , and an object .
The left and right derived objects are the homology or cohomology of the deleted chosen resolutions after applying (Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data, Right derived objects relative to supplied injective resolution data).
Exact functors commute with homology of chain complexes (An exact functor commutes with homology).
Exactness means that is exact on both the projective and injective resolution complexes (Exact functor between abelian categories).
Proof
The deleted projective resolution of is exact in every positive degree. By [L3], applying preserves that exactness, so the resulting chain complex has zero homology in every positive degree. Using [L1], this says for .
Read the deleted injective resolution of as a reindexed chain complex. It is exact in every positive cohomological degree, and [L3] preserves that exactness after applying . By [L2], the resulting homology, hence cohomology, is zero in every positive degree. Therefore for .
Steps 1.1 and 1.2 prove the claimed vanishing on both sides.
Derived functors commute with finite biproducts
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
Let be a supplied projective resolution datum on a class , let be a supplied injective resolution datum on a class , and let be an additive functor between abelian categories. For every , the additive functor preserves finite biproducts that exist in the domain of , and the additive functor preserves finite biproducts that exist in the domain of .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A finite biproduct in one of the two relevant supplied-data domains.
The left derived functor is additive (Left derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
The right derived functor is additive (Right derived functors relative to supplied data are additive functors).
Any additive functor preserves finite biproducts (An additive functor preserves finite biproducts).
Proof
Apply [L3] to the additive functor from [L1]. This gives preservation of finite biproducts on the left-derived side.
Apply [L3] to the additive functor from [L2]. This gives preservation of finite biproducts on the right-derived side.
Therefore both derived constructions commute with finite biproducts.
Contravariant derived functors are derived on the opposite category
Statement
Let be a contravariant additive functor between abelian categories, regarded as a covariant functor . If is a supplied projective resolution datum on a class in , then reversing arrows turns it into a supplied injective resolution datum on the same class in , and for every , Thus contravariant derived functors are computed on the opposite category.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: A contravariant additive functor , a supplied projective datum on , and an object .
A contravariant functor on is a covariant functor on (Covariant functor, identity functor, composite functor, and contravariant functor, Opposite category ).
If is abelian then is abelian (The opposite of an abelian category is abelian).
Projective objects are defined by lifting against epimorphisms, while injective objects are defined dually by extension across monomorphisms (Projective object, Injective object).
Right derived objects are defined from supplied injective resolution data (Right derived objects relative to supplied injective resolution data).
Proof
By [L1] and [L2], may be treated as a covariant additive functor on the abelian category .
A projective resolution in becomes, after reversing arrows, a coaugmented exact complex in . Because [L3] exchanges the lifting and extension conditions under passage to the opposite category, each projective term becomes injective there. Hence the supplied datum becomes an injective resolution datum on in .
Applying [L4] to the covariant functor and the injective datum gives This is exactly the correct opposite-category formulation of deriving the original contravariant functor.
A bifunctor can be derived in either variable when the relevant resolution data are supplied
Statement
Let be abelian categories, and let be additive in each variable. Let be supplied projective resolution data on a class of objects of , and let be supplied injective resolution data on a class of objects of . Then:
- for each fixed , the covariant functor has right derived objects at every ,
- for each fixed , the contravariant functor is derived at every on using the projective datum on .
These are the two candidate one-variable derived constructions. No equality between them is asserted here.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: Abelian categories , the displayed bifunctor , and the supplied data on and on .
Right derived objects are defined for covariant functors from supplied injective resolution data (Right derived objects relative to supplied injective resolution data).
Left derived objects are defined for covariant functors from supplied projective resolution data (Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data).
Contravariant functors are derived on the opposite category (Contravariant derived functors are derived on the opposite category).
Proof
Fix . Then is a covariant additive functor between abelian categories, so [L1] gives the right derived objects for each .
Fix . Then is contravariant and additive in the -variable. By [L3], it is derived at each on using , equivalently the corresponding injective datum on .
Steps 1.1 and 1.2 give the two candidate one-variable derived constructions. Since no comparison map between them has yet been supplied, no balance conclusion follows here.
A balanced derived bifunctor
Definition
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice. Let be abelian categories, let be additive in each variable, let be supplied projective resolution data on a class in , and let be supplied injective resolution data on a class in . Assume moreover that for each fixed the covariant functor is left exact, and that for each fixed the functor is left exact.
A balanced derived bifunctor relative to on consists of the two candidate one-variable right-derived constructions from A bifunctor can be derived in either variable when the relevant resolution data are supplied together with, for every , a natural isomorphism natural in and . These isomorphisms must satisfy:
- in degree , when the two candidates are identified with by The zero-th right derived functor of a left exact functor recovers the functor on and on , the balance isomorphism becomes the identity of ;
- the isomorphisms are natural in both variables in the sense of Natural transformation and its components.
This is a definition relative to the displayed supplied data and ; it does not impose an unquantified condition involving alternative data. The definition records extra comparison data, while the previous proposition only constructs the two candidates.
5 · Examples, counterexamples and false statements
FALSE: enough projectives imply a canonical resolution for every object
Statement
If an abelian category has enough projectives, then that property uniquely determines a projective resolution for every object.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: The category of abelian groups, which has enough projectives, and the object .
A supplied projective resolution datum is extra objectwise structure, not an existence theorem of its own (Supplied projective resolution data).
Even chosen objectwise projective resolutions do not uniquely determine comparison maps, and hence do not by themselves determine a resolution functor (FALSE: objectwise projective-resolution choices uniquely determine a resolution functor).
The iterated free resolution is a special canonical construction in module categories, not a general consequence of enough projectives (The iterated free-module resolution is canonical in ZF).
Refutation
One projective resolution of is Adding the contractible projective complex in degrees and gives a different projective resolution where the augmentation is reduction modulo on the first summand. Both displayed augmented complexes are exact, but they are not the same resolution.
Thus even in a category with enough projectives the property alone does not uniquely determine a resolution of a fixed object. Moreover, [L2] shows that arbitrary objectwise choices still do not uniquely determine the comparison maps of a resolution functor. The special construction in [L3] uses the extra underlying-set structure of a module category, while [L1] records that a general supplied datum is additional structure. Therefore the displayed claim is false.
FALSE: the definition of a derived map may depend on the chosen comparison lift
Statement
Assume the Axiom of Dependent Choice.
The definition of a derived map may depend on which comparison lift or comparison extension is chosen.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: The Axiom of Dependent Choice and a morphism between objects with supplied resolutions.
Left derived maps are defined from comparison lifts (The left derived map relative to supplied resolution data).
Right derived maps are defined from comparison extensions (The right derived map relative to supplied resolution data).
The induced homology map is independent of the chosen projective comparison lift (The induced homology map is independent of the chosen comparison lift).
The induced cohomology map is independent of the chosen injective comparison extension (The induced cohomology map is independent of the chosen injective comparison extension).
Refutation
On the projective side, [L1] defines the derived map from a comparison lift, and [L3] proves that any two such lifts induce the same homology map.
On the injective side, [L2] defines the derived map from a comparison extension, and [L4] proves that any two such extensions induce the same cohomology map. Therefore the displayed claim is false on both sides.
FALSE: every additive functor has L_0 naturally isomorphic to itself
Statement
Every additive functor has naturally isomorphic to .
Facts & Assumptions
Given: The additive functor on abelian groups, and supplied projective resolution data on a class containing that assigns it the standard resolution below.
If is right exact, the zero-th left derived functor recovers naturally (The zero-th left derived functor of a right exact functor recovers the functor).
Left derived objects are computed from the homology of an applied deleted projective resolution (Left derived objects relative to supplied projective resolution data).
Additivity means preservation of sums on hom-groups (Additive functor).
Refutation
The functor is additive by [L3], but it is enough to compute its value on the standard projective resolution Applying to the deleted resolution gives and both displayed Hom groups are .
Therefore , while . So is not naturally isomorphic to for this supplied datum and additive functor. Thus additivity alone does not guarantee recovery; [L1] records right exactness as a sufficient hypothesis, and the displayed claim is false.
FALSE: derived functors in two variables are automatically balanced
Statement
Whenever a bifunctor can be derived in each variable, the two derived constructions are automatically balanced.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: The Axiom of Dependent Choice, a field , the ring , the abelian categories and , and the bifunctor to .
With supplied projective and injective data, one may derive an additive bifunctor in either variable and thereby obtain two candidate constructions (A bifunctor can be derived in either variable when the relevant resolution data are supplied).
A balanced derived bifunctor relative to the supplied data requires extra natural isomorphisms, natural in both variables and normalized by the degree-zero identifications (A balanced derived bifunctor).
Refutation
The functor is exact on finite-dimensional vector spaces, is left exact, and tensoring over is exact. Hence is additive and left exact in each variable in the sense required by [L1]. Give its length-zero projective resolution. The first-variable right-derived object at is then zero in every positive degree.
The -module is injective: the coefficient-of- functional identifies with as an -module, and is exact. Thus is an injective resolution of : at every copy of , both the image and kernel of multiplication by are the ideal .
Applying to the deleted resolution in step 1.2 gives a cochain complex with one copy of in every degree and zero differentials, since multiplication by annihilates . Consequently the second-variable right-derived object in degree is , whereas the first-variable object from step 1.1 is . They cannot be isomorphic, so the balance data required by [L2] do not exist and the displayed automatic-balance claim is false.
FALSE: an acyclic resolution is the same thing as an injective resolution
Statement
An acyclic resolution is the same thing as an injective resolution.
Facts & Assumptions
Given: The identity functor on abelian groups, a supplied projective resolution datum on a class containing the free abelian groups, and the standard free resolution
An -acyclic resolution only requires a correctly oriented exact resolution by -acyclic objects (An F-acyclic resolution).
Exact functors have vanishing positive derived functors on every object, so every object is acyclic for the identity functor (An exact functor has vanishing positive derived functors).
Injective objects are characterized by an extension property across monomorphisms (Injective object).
Refutation
The identity functor is exact, so [L2] makes every object in the domain of Id-acyclic. The terms of the displayed free resolution are free abelian groups, hence lie in that domain. Therefore [L1] identifies the displayed free resolution of as an Id-acyclic resolution relative to .
The term in that resolution is not injective: the inclusion and the map into admit no extension . Thus [L3] fails. So an -acyclic resolution need not be an injective resolution, and the displayed claim is false.