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TheoremStatement: AI-adaptedProof: AI-generatedprecheck passjudge pass (gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-09-01
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With a supplied well-powering, a subobject classifier represents the subobject functor

Statement

Assume C is locally small, has a subobject classifier true⁡:1→Ω, and has a supplied well-powering X↦MX. For each object X, let Sub⁡M(X) be the quotient set of MX by mutual factorization. Then X↦Sub⁡M(X) is a contravariant Set-valued functor, and the classifier induces a natural isomorphism

C(−,Ω)⇒≅Sub⁡M.

Thus Ω represents the supplied representative-set form of the subobject functor.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A locally small category C with a subobject classifier true⁡:1→Ω and a supplied well-powering X↦MX.

[L1]

A subobject classifier assigns to each monomorphism m:A→X a unique classifying map χm:X→Ω whose pullback of true⁡ recovers the same subobject (Subobject classifier).

[L2]

A supplied well-powering gives a set MX of monomorphisms into each object X, containing a representative of every subobject class (Well-powered and co-well-powered categories, and supplied well-powerings).

[L3]

Mutual factorization is an equivalence relation on monomorphisms into a fixed object, and subobjects are precisely those equivalence classes (Subobject and quotient object as mutual-factorisation classes of monomorphisms and epimorphisms, Mutual factorisation is an equivalence relation on monomorphisms into an object and dually on epimorphisms out of it).

[L4]

A contravariantly representable functor is a natural isomorphism C(−,Ω)≅P for some presheaf P (Presheaves, covariantly and contravariantly representable functors, and representations).

Proof

technique · direct
1.1givenL2L3

By [L3], the quotient Sub⁡M(X):=MX/∼ by mutual factorization is a well-defined set for each X, and its elements correspond exactly to subobject classes of X represented inside the supplied set MX.

2.1step 1.1L2L3construct

For a morphism u:X→Y and a class [m]∈Sub⁡M(Y), pull back m along u. The resulting monomorphism into X defines a subobject class of X, and [L2] provides a representative of that class in MX; step 1.1 shows that the resulting element of Sub⁡M(X) is independent of the chosen representative. Hence X↦Sub⁡M(X) is a contravariant functor.

3.1givenL1step 2.1construct

For each X, define ΦX:C(X,Ω)→Sub⁡M(X) by sending f:X→Ω to the class of the pullback of true⁡ along f. Conversely, define ΨX:Sub⁡M(X)→C(X,Ω) by sending the class of m to its unique classifying map χm from [L1].

4.1step 3.1L1L3algebra

The composites are identities. If f:X→Ω, then ΨX(ΦX(f))=f because the pullback subobject of true⁡ along f is classified by f itself, and that classifying map is unique by [L1]. If [m]∈Sub⁡M(X), then the pullback of true⁡ along χm represents the same subobject class as m, so ΦX(ΨX([m]))=[m]. Naturality follows because pullback commutes with composition of classifying maps.

5.1step 2.1step 4.1L4∎

Therefore Φ is a natural isomorphism C(−,Ω)≅Sub⁡M. By [L4], Ω represents the supplied representative-set form of the subobject functor.

Depends on

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