Exercise 11 page 179 of Hungerford's Algebra

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Following are items (e) and (f) of Exercise 11 page 179 of Hungerford's Algebra: [ the set T(A) is all torsion elements of A]

(e) If $0 \to A \to B \to C$ is an exact sequence of R-modules, then so is $0 \to T(A) \to T(B) \to T(C)$
(f) If $g :B \to C$ is an R-module epimorphism, then $g_T : T(B) \to T(C)$ need not be an epimorphism. [Hint: consider abelian groups.]

For (e) : $Ker(g)=Im(f)$. If $x \in Ker(g_T)$ then g_T(x)=0. Because $T(B) \subset$ B then $x \in Ker(g)=Im(f)$. Thus $x \in =Im(f_T)$. I cannot go the other direction because it seems not obvious how $x \in =Im(f)$ implies $x \in =Im(f_T)$ to proceed the rest.

For (f) : We need to find an element in T(C) which is not in $g_T(T(C))$. I don't know how and the hint seems not relevant?

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This is exercise 11 on page 179 of Hungerford's Algebra book.

Let us recall the initial items that we are going to use.

From (a), we know that, if $A$ is a module over a commutative ring $R$, then $T(A) =\{a \in A | \text{ exists } r\in R, r \neq 0 \text{ and } ra=0 \}$.

From (b), we know that, if $R$ is an integral domain, then $T(A)$ is a submodule of $A$.

For item (d) to (f) $R$ is an integral domain.

From (d) we know that, if $f: A \to B$ is an $R$-module homomorphism, then $f(T(A)) \subseteq T(B)$; hence the restriction $f_T$ of $f$ to $T(A)$ ia an $R$-module homomorphism $T(A) \to T(B)$.

Now let us solve items (e) and (f).

Item (e): Suppose $0 \to A \xrightarrow{f} B \xrightarrow{g} C$ is an exact sequence.

Step 1: From item(d), we have that $f_T:T(A) \to T(B)$ and $g_T:T(B) \to T(C)$ are $R$-modules homomorphism.

Step 2: Since $0 \to A \xrightarrow{f} B \xrightarrow{g} C$ is an exact sequence, we have that $f$ is a monomorphism, so $f_T$ (the restriction of $f$ to the submodule $T(A)$) is also a monomorphism.

Step 3: Since $0 \to A \xrightarrow{f} B \xrightarrow{g} C$ is an exact sequence, we have that $\mathrm{Im}(f) = \mathrm{Ker}(g)$. Since $f_T$ is a restriction of $f$, we have $\mathrm{Im}(f_T) \subseteq \mathrm{Ker}(g)$, and since $\mathrm{Im}(f_T) \subseteq T(B)$. We have that $\mathrm{Im}(f_T) \subseteq \mathrm{Ker}(g) \cap T(B)= \mathrm{Ker}(g_T)$. So, we have proved that $\mathrm{Im}(f_T) \subseteq \mathrm{Ker}(g_T)$. Let us prove that the equality holds.

Given any $b \in \mathrm{Ker}(g_T)$. It means that $b \in T(B) \subseteq B$ such that $g_T(b) =0$. Since $g_T$ is a restriction of $g$, we have $g(b)=0$. So $b \in \mathrm{Ker}(g)$. Since $\mathrm{Im}(f) = \mathrm{Ker}(g)$, there is $a \in A$ such that $f(a)=b$. Since $b \in T(B)$, there is $r \in R$, $r\neq 0$ such that $rb=0$. So, $f(ra)= rf(a)=rb=0$. So $ra \in \mathrm{Ker}(f)$. But, $f$ is a monomorphism, so $ra=0$, so $a\in T(A)$. So, we have $f_T(a) =f(a)=b$. It means $b \in \mathrm{Im}(f_T)$. So, we have proved $\mathrm{Im}(f_T) \subseteq \mathrm{Ker}(g_T)$.

From steps 1, 2 and 3 above, we have that $0 \to T(A) \xrightarrow{f_T} T(B) \xrightarrow{g_T} T(C)$ is an exact sequence.

item (f): Consider $\Bbb Z$ and $\Bbb Z /4\Bbb Z$ as $\Bbb Z$-modules. Note that $\Bbb Z$ is an integral domain.

Let $g: \Bbb Z \to \Bbb Z /4\Bbb Z$ defined by $g(n) = n \bmod 4$. It is easy to prove that $g$ is a $\Bbb Z$-module epimorphism.

On the other hand, $T(\Bbb Z) =\{0\}$ and $T(\Bbb Z /4\Bbb Z) =\{\overline{0},\overline{2}\}$. So $g_T$ can not be an epimorphism.