Hilbert functions for affine vs projective varieties and filtered vs graded algebras.

95 Views Asked by At

I'm somewhat confused about how to define Hilbert functions for affine varieties and for filtered rings in a compatible way. I'm familiar with how they are defined for projective varieties: Let $X$ be a projective variety over the field $k$, we define the Hilbert function for $X$ by

$$ h_X(m)= \dim (k[x_0,...,x_n]/I(X))_m$$ where $(k[x_0,...,x_n]/I(X))_m$ denotes the $m^\textit{th}$ graded piece of the homogeneous coordinate ring $k[x_0,...,x_n]/I(X)$. In this case, it agrees with the definition I know for the Hilbert function of a graded ring (in this case $k[x_0,...,x_n]/I(X)$) or for a homogeneous ideal (in this case $I(X)$). However, I have seen multiple sources define the Hilbert function for an affine variety as

$$ h_X(m)=\dim (k[x_1,...,x_n]_{\leq m}/I(X)_{\leq m}) $$

Where the $k[x_1,...,x_n]_{\leq m}$ denotes the set of polynomials of degree at most $m$ and $I(X)_m=k[x_1,...,x_n]_{\leq m} \cap I(X)$. Now, the coordinate ring, $k[X]=k[x_1,...,x_n]/I(X)$, is a filtered algebra $k[x_1,...,x_n]/I(X)=\bigcup_{m \geq 0} k[x_1,...,x_n]_{\leq m}/I(X)_{\leq m} $. So if I were to come up with a matching definition of the Hilbert function for filtered algebras $A=\bigcup_{m\geq 0} A_m$ that would match the above definition for $A=k[X]$ it would be $$h_A(m)=\dim A_m.$$

But on wikipedia, it says that the Hilbert function of a filtered algebra is the Hilbert function of the associated graded algebra $\mathcal{G}(A)=\bigoplus_{m\geq 0} G_m$ where $G_0=A_0$ and $G_m=A_m/A_{m-1}$ for $m>0$ which would give $$h_A(m)=\dim A_m - \dim A_{m-1}$$ for each $m>0$. I'm pretty sure these definitions aren't compatible.

My questions are:

  1. Is the Wikipedia definition the standard definition for the Hilbert function of a filtered algebra?
  2. If so, why is there a seemingly separate definition for affine Hilbert functions that doesn't match the definition for filtered algebras?
  3. Does the reasoning around my confusion even make sense, or am I missing something? Does it even matter?