Grothendieck’s axiom for abelian categories: AB5 and AB4, understanding a proof from Popescu’s book

abelian-categoriescategory-theoryhomological-algebraproof-explanation

The question is regarding the following axioms

AB$4$. If $(f_i\colon A_i\to B_i)_{i \in I}$ is a family of monomorphisms in an abelian category, then the induced $\bigoplus_{i \in I} f_i\colon \bigoplus_{i \in I} A_i\to \bigoplus_{i \in I} B_i$ is also a monomorphism.

AB$5$. In an abelian category, for a directed family $(A_i)_{i \in I}$ of subobjects of $A$ and a subobject $B$ of $A$, we have $(\sum_{i \in I} A_i)\cap B = \sum_{i \in I} (A_i\cap B)$.

I'm trying to follow the following proof from N.Popescu's book Abelian categories with applications to rings and modules:

Corollary 8.9. An AB5-category $\mathscr{C}$ is AB4.

Proof. Let $\left\{f_i: X_i^{\prime} \rightarrow X_i\right\}_{i \in I}$ be a set of monomorphisms of $\mathscr{C}$ and
$$
f: \coprod_i X_i{ }^{\prime} \rightarrow \coprod_i X_i
$$
the sum morphism. Let $T$ be the set of finite subsets of $I$; for any $F \in T$ we denote by $X_F{ }^{\prime}$ the canonical image of $\coprod_{j \in F} X_j{ }^{\prime}$ in $\coprod_i X_i{ }^{\prime}$. Then $\left\{X_F{ }^{\prime}\right\}_{F \in T}$ is a direct set of subobjects and $\sum_F X_F^{\prime}=\coprod_i X_i^{\prime}$. Let $K=\operatorname{ker} f$. Then $\left.K=\left(\sum_F X_F{ }^{\prime}\right) \cap K=\sum_F{ }^{\prime} \cap K\right)$. If $K \neq 0$, then $X_F{ }^{\prime} \cap K \neq 0$ for some $F$. Now, let $u_F: \coprod_{j \in F} X_j^{\prime} \rightarrow \coprod_i X_i^{\prime}$ be the canonical monomorphism. Obviously, $u_F^{-1}\left(X_F^{\prime} \cap K\right) \neq 0$. Also, let $v_F: \coprod_{j \in F} X_j \rightarrow \coprod_i X_i$ and
$$
f_F: \coprod_{j \in F} X_j{ }^{\prime} \rightarrow \coprod_{j \in F} X_j
$$
be canonically constructed. Then $f u_F=v_F f_F$ and $u_F^{-1}\left(X_F^{\prime} \cap K\right)=$ $\operatorname{ker}\left(f u_F\right)=\operatorname{ker}\left(v_F f_F\right)=0, v_F$ and $f_F$ being monomorphisms. This is a contradiction, hence $f$ is a monomorphism. $\square$

However, I get stuck at the end, not seeing why $v_F$ is a monomorphism. The way I understand it, if $(l_F)_i\colon X_i \to \coprod_{i \in F} X_i$ and $l_i\colon X_i\to \coprod_{i \in I} X_i$ are canonical injections, then $v_F$ is the unique morphism such that $v_F\circ (l_F)_i = l_i$ for all $i \in F$. Why would it be monic?

I understand, however, why $f_F$ is monic. It is because direct sums of finite families of monomorphisms coincides their products, hence they are monomorphisms as limits commute with limits. But this logic doesn't apply to $v_F$ since it has possibly infinite set $I$ and the colimit of the constant discrete category is not the same as the limit of the constant connected category, so we can't use the trick of reducing the universal property morphism to the morphism induced by colimits, as in connected case.

Best Answer

Special thanks to Captain Lama in the comment section!

Let $(l_{I\setminus F})_i\colon X_i\to \coprod_{i \in I\setminus F} X_i$. Form a coproduct $(\coprod_{i \in F} X_i)\sqcup (\coprod_{i \in F\setminus I} X_i)$ together with canonical injections $q_1\colon \coprod_{i \in F} X_i \to (\coprod_{i \in F} X_i)\sqcup (\coprod_{i \in F\setminus I} X_i)$ and $q_2 \colon \coprod_{i \in F} X_i \to (\coprod_{i \in F} X_i)\sqcup (\coprod_{i \in F\setminus I} X_i)$. Then, by the associativity theorem for coproducts, $(\coprod_{i \in F} X_i)\sqcup (\coprod_{i \in F\setminus I} X_i)$ is a coproduct of the family $(X_i)_{i \in I}$ together with the canonical injections $q_i\colon X_i \to (\coprod_{i \in F} X_i)\sqcup (\coprod_{i \in F\setminus I} X_i)$ where $q_i = q_1\circ (l_F)_i$ if $i \in F$ and $q_i = q_2\circ (l_{F\setminus I})_i$ otherwise. By uniqueness of coproduct, there is a unique isomorphism $u$ such that $l_i = u\circ q_i = u\circ q_1\circ (l_F)_i$ for all $i \in F$ and $l_i = u\circ q_2 \circ (l_{F\setminus I})_i$ for all $i \in F\setminus I$. In particular, $v_F\circ (l_F)_i = l_i = u\circ q_1 \circ (l_F)_i$ for all $i \in F$, so $v_F = u\circ q_1$ is a monomorphism as coproduct injections are monomorphisms in abelian categories.

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Category Theory – Abelian Categories and Axiom (AB5)

I borrowed the ideas from the following books.

Abelian categories with application to rings and modules by Popescu, 1973.

Theory of categories by Mitchell, 1964.

Notations and Conventions We fix a Grothendieck universe $\mathcal{U}$. We consider only categories which belong to $\mathcal{U}$. Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a category. We denote by Ob($\mathcal{C}$) the set of objects of $\mathcal{C}$. Often, by abuse of notation, we use $\mathcal{C}$ instead of Ob($\mathcal{C}$). We denote by Mor($\mathcal{C}$) the set of morphisms of $\mathcal{C}$.

Let $f:X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism of $\mathcal{C}$. We denote by dom($f$) the domain of $f$, i.e. $X$ = dom($f$). We denote by codom($f$) the codomain of $f$, i.e. $Y$ = codom($f$).

Definition Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a category. Let $X$ be an object of $\mathcal{C}$. Let $I$ be a small set. Let $(X_i)_I$ be a family of subobjects of $X$. If $(X_i)_I$ satisfies the following condition, $(X_i)_I$ is called a directed family of subobjects of $X$.

For any $i, j \in I$, there exists $k \in I$ such that $X_i \subset X_k$ and $X_j \subset X_k$.

Lemma 1 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Let $I$ be a small category. Let $F: I \rightarrow \mathcal{A}$ be a functor. Let $A$ = colim $F$. For each $i \in I$, let $f_i:F(i) \rightarrow A$ be the canonical morphism. For each $i \in I$, let $A_i$ = Im($f_i$). Since $\mathcal{A}$ is cocomplete, $\sum A_i$ exists. Then $A = \sum A_i$.

Proof: Let $B = \sum A_i$. Let $m:B \rightarrow A$ be the canonical monomorphism. Since $A_i$ = Im($f_i$) for each $i \in I$, there exists $g_i:F(i) \rightarrow B$ such that $f_i = mg_i$. Let $u: i \rightarrow j$ be a morphism of I. Since $f_i = f_jF(u)$, $mg_i = mg_jF(u)$. Since $m$ is a monomorphism, $g_i = g_jF(u)$. Hence there exists $g:A \rightarrow B$ such that $g_i = gf_i$ for each $i$. Hence $mgf_i = mg_i = f_i$ for each $i$. Hence $mg = 1_A$. Hence $A \subset B$. Hence $A = B$. QED

Lemma 2 Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a cocomplete category. Let I be a small category. Let $\mathcal{C}^I$ be the category of functors: $I \rightarrow \mathcal{C}$. Then colim$: \mathcal{C}^I \rightarrow \mathcal{C}$ preserves colimits.

Proof: Let $\Delta: \mathcal{C} → \mathcal{C}^I$ be the diagonal functor, i.e. for each $X \in \mathcal{C}$ and for each $i \in I$, $\Delta(X)(i) = X$. Since colim is a left adjoint functor of $\Delta$, it preserves colimits(MacLane: Categories for the working mathematician, Chapter V, Section 5, Theorem 1, p.114). QED

Lemma 3 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category which satisfies (AB5). Let $X$ be an object of $\mathcal{A}$. Let I be a small filtered category. Let Sub($X$) be the category of subobjects of $X$. Let $F: I \rightarrow$ Sub($X$) be a functor.

Then $\sum F(i)$ = colim $F$.

Proof: For each $i \in I$, Let $u_i：F(i) \rightarrow$ colim $F$ be the canonical morphism. For each $i \in I$, Let $m_i：F(i) \rightarrow X$ be the canonical monomorphism. Since $(m_i)_I$ is a cocone, it induces a morphism $f$: colim $F \rightarrow X$. By (AB5), $f$ is mono. Hence we can regard colim $F$ as a subobject of $X$. Since $fu_i = m_i$ for each $i$, $F(i) \subset$ colim $F$.

Let $Z$ be a subobject of $X$. Let $r: Z \rightarrow X$ be the canonical monomorphism. Suppose $F(i) \subset Z$ for each $i$. Let $k_i: F(i) \rightarrow Z$ be the canonical monomorphism. Since $(k_i)_I$ is a cocone, it induces a morphism $g$: colim $F \rightarrow Z$. For each $i \in I$, $rgu_i = rk_i = m_i$. Hence $f = rg$. Hence colim $F \subset Z$. QED

Lemma 4 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Let $f:X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $I$ be a small set. Let $(X_i)_I$ be a family of subobjects of $X$. Then $\sum f(X_i) = f(\sum X_i)$.

Proof: For each $i \in I$, $X_i \subset \sum X_i$. Hence $f(X_i) \subset f(\sum X_i)$.

Let $Z$ be a subobject of $X$. Suppose $f(X_i) \subset Z$ for each $i$. Then $f^{-1}(f(X_i)) \subset f^{-1}(Z)$. Since $X_i \subset f^{-1}(f(X_i))$, $X_i \subset f^{-1}(Z)$. Hence $\sum X_i \subset f^{-1}(Z)$. Hence $f(\sum X_i) \subset f(f^{-1}(Z)) \subset Z$. QED

Lemma 4.5 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Let $I$ be a small category. Let $F: I \rightarrow \mathcal{A}$ be a functor. Let $X$ = colim $F$. Let $(s_i: F(i) \rightarrow Y)_I$ be a cocone. Let $f:X \rightarrow Y$ be the morphism induced by the cocone. Then $f(X) = \sum s_i(F(i))$.

Proof: For each $i$, let $u_i: F(i) \rightarrow X$ be the canonical morphism. For each $i$, $fu_i = s_i$. Hence $f(u_i(F(i)) = s_i(F(i)) \subset f(X)$.

Let $Z$ be a subobject of $Y$. Suppose $s_i(F(i)) \subset Z$ for each $i$. For each $i$, $s_i$ induces $t_i: F(i) \rightarrow Z$. Since $(t_i: F(i) \rightarrow Z)_I$ is a cocone, it induces $g:X \rightarrow Z$. Let $m: Z \rightarrow Y$ be the canonical monomorphism. $mgu_i = mt_i = s_i$ for each i. Hence $f = mg$. Hence $f(X) \subset Z$. QED

Lemma 5 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Let $X$ be an object of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $I$ be a small set. Let $(X_i)_I$ be a family of subobjects of $X$. Then $\bigoplus X/X_i$ = $X/(\sum X_i)$.

Proof: For each $i \in I$, the following sequence is exact. $0 \rightarrow X_i \rightarrow X \rightarrow X/X_i \rightarrow 0$. By Lemma 2, colim preserves cokernels. Hence, colim $X_i \rightarrow X \rightarrow$ colim $X/X_i \rightarrow 0$ is exact. By Lemma 4.5, Im(colim $X_i \rightarrow X$) = $\sum X_i$. Hence colim $X/X_i$ = $X/(\sum X_i)$. QED

Lemma 5.4 Suppose the following is a pullback diagaram in an abelian category. $$\begin{matrix} A&\stackrel{f}{\rightarrow}&B\\ \downarrow&&\downarrow\\ C&\stackrel{h}{\rightarrow}&D \end{matrix} $$

Suppose the following sequence is exact. $0 \rightarrow C \stackrel{h}{\rightarrow}D \rightarrow E$

Then $0 \rightarrow A \stackrel{f}{\rightarrow}B \rightarrow E$ is exact.

Proof: Left to the readers.

Lemma 5.5 Consider the following commutative diagram with two horizontal exact sequences in an abelian category.

$X \rightarrow Y \rightarrow Z \rightarrow 0$

$0 \rightarrow X' \rightarrow Y' \rightarrow Z' \rightarrow 0$

Suppose the left square is a pullback. Then $Z \rightarrow Z'$ is mono.

Proof: We call s the above morphism $Z \rightarrow Z'$.

Let $r:T \rightarrow Z$ be a morphism such that sr = 0.

There exists the following pullback diagaram. $$\begin{matrix} P&\stackrel{u}{\rightarrow}&T\\ \downarrow&&\downarrow{r}\\ Y&\stackrel{}{\rightarrow}&Z \end{matrix} $$

By Lemma 5.4, $0 \rightarrow X \rightarrow Y \rightarrow Z’$ is exact.

Hence there exists $P \rightarrow X$ such that $P \rightarrow Y = P \rightarrow X \rightarrow Y$.

Hence $ru$ = 0. On the other hand, since a pullback of an epimorphism in an abelian category is epi(MacLane Proposition 2, p.199), $u$ is epi. Hence $r$ = 0. QED

Lemma 6 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be an abelian category. Let $f:X \rightarrow Y$ be a morphism of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $Z \subset Y$. Then $X/f^{-1}(Z)$ is canonically isomorphic to $f(X)/(f(X) \cap Z)$.

Proof:

Consider the following commutative diagram with two horizontal exact sequences.

Diagram

By Lemma 5.5, $X/f^{-1}(Z) \rightarrow f(X)/(f(X) \cap Z)$ is mono. Since $X \rightarrow f(X)$ is epi, $X \rightarrow X/f^{-1}(Z) \rightarrow f(X)/(f(X) ∩ Z)$ is epi. Hence $X/f^{-1}(Z) \rightarrow f(X)/(f(X) \cap Z)$ is epi. Hence $X/f^{-1}(Z) \rightarrow f(X)/(f(X) \cap Z)$ is an isomorphism. QED

Note If you are willing to accept Mitchell's embedding theorem, Lemma 6 will be trivial.

Lemma 7 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ has the following property.

Let $A$ be an object of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $(A_i)_I$ be a directed family of subobjects of $A$. Then, for every subobject $B$ of $A$, $(\sum A_i) \cap B = \sum (A_i \cap B)$.

Let $f:Y \rightarrow X$ be a morphism of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $(X_i)_I$ be a directed family of subobjects of $X$. Then, $f^{-1}(\sum X_i) = \sum f^{-1}(X_i)$.

Proof: By Lemma 6, for each $i$, $Y/f^{-1}(X_i)$ is canonically isomorphic to $f(Y)/(f(Y) \cap X_i)$.

Hence $\bigoplus Y/f^{-1}(X_i)$ is canonically isomorphic to $\bigoplus f(Y)/(f(Y) \cap X_i)$.

By Lemma 5, $Y/\sum f^{-1}(X_i)$ = $\bigoplus Y/f^{-1}(X_i)$.

Hence $Y/\sum f^{-1}(X_i)$ = $\bigoplus f(Y)/(f(Y) \cap X_i)$.

By Lemma 5, $\bigoplus f(Y)/(f(Y) \cap X_i)$ = $f(Y)/\sum (f(Y) \cap X_i)$.

By the assumption, $f(Y)/\sum (f(Y) \cap X_i)$ = $f(Y)/((\sum X_i) \cap f(Y))$.

By Lemma 6, $Y/f^{-1}(\sum X_i)$ is canonically isomorphic to $f(Y)/((\sum X_i) \cap f(Y))$.

Hence $Y/\sum f^{-1}(X_i)$ is canonically isomorphic to $Y/f^{-1}(\sum X_i)$.

Hence $f^{-1}(\sum X_i)$ = $\sum f^{-1}(X_i)$. QED

Lemma 7.3 Let $\mathcal{C}$ be a category. Let $X$ be an object of $\mathcal{C}$. Let Sub($X$) be the category of subobjects of $X$. Let $I$ be a small set. Let $(X_i)_I$ be a directed family of subobjects of $X$. Then there exists a preorder on $I$ making $I$ a filtered category and a functor $F: I \rightarrow$ Sub($X$) such that $F(i) = X_i$ for each $i \in I$.

Proof: Define $i \leq j$ if and only if $X_i \subset X_j$. QED

Lemma 7.5 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be an abelian category. Let $I$ be a small category. Let $F: I \rightarrow \mathcal{A}$ be a functor. Let $i \in I$. Let $(i\downarrow I)$ be the coslice category under i. Let Sub($F(i)$) be the category of subobjects of $F(i)$. Then there exists a functor $G$: $(i\downarrow I) \rightarrow$ Sub($F(i)$) such that $G(u)$ = Ker($F(u)$) for each $u \in (i\downarrow I)$.

Proof:Clear.

Lemma 8 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be an abelian category. Let $I$ be a small filtered category. Let $F: I \rightarrow \mathcal{A}$ be a functor. Let $i \in I$. Let $J$ = {$u \in$ Mor($I$); $i$ = dom($u$)}. Then (Ker($F(u))$)$_J$ is a directed family of subobjects of $F(i)$.

Proof: Let $(i\downarrow I)$ be the coslice category under i. $(i\downarrow I)$ is clearly a filtered category. Since $J$ = Ob($(i\downarrow I)$), the assertion follows immediately from Lemma 7.5. QED

Lemma 8.5 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Let $I$ be a small category. Let $F: I \rightarrow \mathcal{A}$ be a functor. Let $S = \bigoplus_i F(i)$, where $i$ runs over every object of $I$. Let $m_i: F(i) \rightarrow S$ be the canonical monomorphism for each $i \in I$. Let $M$ = $\sum_u$ Im($m_i - m_jF(u)$), where $u$ runs over every morphism of $I$ and $i$ = dom($u$), $j$ = codom($u$). Let $\pi:S \rightarrow S/M$ be the canonical epimorphism. Let $f_i = \pi m_i$ for each $i \in I$. Then $S/M$ = colim $F$ with canonical morphisms $f_i: F(i) \rightarrow S/M$ for each $i \in I$.

Proof:Left to the readers.

Lemma 8.6 Let $I$ be a filtered category. Let $V$ be a non-empty finite subset of Ob($I$). Let $T$ be a finite subset of Mor($I$) such that dom($u$) $\in V$ and codom($u$) $\in V$ whenever $u \in T$. Then there exists $p \in$ Ob($I$) and a morphism $f_i: i \rightarrow p$ for each $i \in V$ with the following property.

For each $u:i \rightarrow j$ in $T$, $f_i = f_ju$.

Proof: There exists $q \in I$ such that there exists a morphism $g_i:i \rightarrow q$ for each $i \in V$. Let $u:i \rightarrow j$ in $T$. There exists $r_u \in I$ and a morphism $h_u:q \rightarrow r_u$ such that $h_ug_i = h_ug_ju$. There exists $r \in I$ such that there exists a morphism $r_u \rightarrow r$ for each $u \in T$.
Hence, for each $u:i \rightarrow j$ in $T$ there exist a morphism $g_{u, i}: i \rightarrow r$ and a morphism $h_{u, j}: j \rightarrow r$ such that $g_{u, i} = h_{u, j}u$.

For each $i \in V$, let $G_i$ be the set {$g_{u, i}: i$ = dom($u$), $u \in T$}, and let $H_i$ be the set {$h_{u, i}: i$ = codom($u$), $u \in T$}. Let $S_i = G_i \cup H_i$ for each $i \in V$. By the properties of a filtered category, we can assume that $S_i$ consists of one morphism $f_i$ with a common codomain $p$ for each $i \in V$. If $S_i$ is empty, we can assume that there exists a morphism $f_i:i \rightarrow p$ which has no condition.
QED

Lemma 9 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ has the following property.

Let $A$ be an object of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $(A_i)_I$ be a directed family of subobjects of $A$. Then, for every subobject $B$ of $A$, $(\sum A_i) \cap B = \sum (A_i \cap B)$.

Let I be a small filtered category. Let $F: I \rightarrow \mathcal{A}$ be a functor. For each $i$, let $f_i: F(i) \rightarrow$ colim($F$) be the canonical morphism. Then, for each $i$, Ker($f_i$) = $\sum$ Ker($F(u)$), where $u$ runs over every morphism such that $i$ = dom($u$).

Proof: We use the notations of Lemma 8.5. Let $T$ be a subset of Mor($I$). Let $M_T$ = $\sum_{u \in T}$ Im($m_i - m_jF(u)$), where $i$ = dom($u$), $j$ = codom($u$). Then $M = \sum_T M_T$, where T runs through all finite subsets of Mor($I$). Hence, by Lemma 8.5 and Lemma 7, Ker($f_i$) = $m_i^{-1}(M)$ = $\sum_T m_i^{-1}(M_T)$, where T runs through all finite subsets of Mor($I$). It suffices to prove: For each finite subset $T$ of Mor($I$), $m_i^{-1}(M_T) \subset$ Ker($F(u)$) for some $u \in$ Mor($I$) such that $i$ = dom($u$).

Let $V$ be the set of $k \in I$ such that $k$ = $i$ or $k$ = dom($u$) or $k$ = codom($u$) for some $u \in T$.

Since $I$ is filtered, by Lemma 8.6, there exists $p \in$ Ob($I$) and a morphism $v_k: k \rightarrow p$ for each $k \in V$ with the following property.

For each $u \in$ Mor($I$) such that k = dom($u$) $\in V$ and $j$ = codom($u$) $\in V$, $v_k = v_ju$.

We define $f:S \rightarrow F(p)$ as follows. Let $k$ be any object of $I$. If $k \in V$, $fm_k = F(v_k)$, otherwise $fm_k = 0$.

For each $u \in T$, let $k$ = dom($u$), $j$ = codom($u$). Then $f(m_k - m_jF(u))$ = $F(v_k) - F(v_j)F(u)$ = $0$. Hence, by Lemma 4, $f(M_T)$ = $0$. Since $m_i(m_i^{-1}(M_T)) \subset M_T$, $0$ = $f(m_i(m_i^{-1}(M_T)))$ = $F(v_i)(m_i^{-1}(M_T))$. Hence $m_i^{-1}(M_T) \subset$ Ker($F(v_i)$) as required. QED

Proposition 1 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category. Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ has the following property.

Let $A$ be an object of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $(A_i)_I$ be a directed family of subobjects of $A$. Then, for every subobject $B$ of $A$, $(\sum A_i) \cap B = \sum (A_i \cap B)$.

Then $\mathcal{A}$ satisfies (AB5).

Proof: Let $I$ be a small filtered category. By Lemma 2, colim$: \mathcal{A}^I \rightarrow \mathcal{A}$ preserves colimits. In particular, it preserves cokernels. Hence it is right exact. It suffices to prove that it preserves monomorphisms.

Let $f: F \rightarrow G$ be a monomorphism of $\mathcal{A}^I$. Let $K$ = Ker(colim($f$)). For each i, let $u_i: F(i) \rightarrow$ colim $F$ be the canonical morphism. Let $A_i$ = $u_i(F(i))$ for each i. Since $I$ is a filtered category, $(A_i)_I$ is a directed family of subobjects of colim $F$. By Lemma 1, colim $F$ = $\sum A_i$. By the assumption, $K$ = $(\sum A_i) \cap K = \sum (A_i \cap K)$. Suppose $K \neq 0$. There exists $k \in I$ such that $A_k \cap K \neq 0$. Since $A_k$ = Im($u_k$), $u_k^{-1}(A_k \cap K) \neq 0$. Let $M = u_k^{-1}(A_k \cap K)$. Then $u_k(M) \neq 0$. For each i, let $v_i: G(i) \rightarrow$ colim $G$ be the canonical morphism. $v_k(f_k(M))$ = (colim $f$)($u_k(M)$) = (colim $f$)($A_k \cap K$) $\subset$ (colim f)($K$) = $0$. Hence $f_k(M) \subset$ Ker($v_k$). By Lemma 9, $f_k(M) \subset \sum$ Ker($G(t)$), where $t$ runs over every morphism such that $k$ = dom($t$).

By Lemma 8 and the assumption, $f_k(M)$ = $\sum$ (Ker($G(t)$) $\cap f_k(M)$). Since $f_k$ is mono, $M$ = $f_k^{-1}(f_k(M))$. By Lemma 7, $M$ = $f_k^{-1}(f_k(M))$ = $f_k^{-1}(\sum$ (Ker($G(t)$) $\cap f_k(M)))$ = $\sum f_k^{-1}$(Ker($G(t)$ $\cap f_k(M))$. For each morphism $t: k \rightarrow j$, Let $N_t = f_k^{-1}$(Ker($G(t)$) $\cap f_k(M))$. Then $G(t)f_k(N_t) = 0$. Since $G(t)f_k = f_jF(t)$, $f_jF(t)(N_t) = G(t)f_k(N_t) = 0$. Since $f_j$ is mono, $F(t)(N_t) = 0$. Hence, by Lemma 9, $u_k(N_t) = 0$. Hence, by Lemma 4, $u_k(M) = u_k(\sum N_t) = \sum u_k(N_t) = 0$. This is a contradiction. QED

Proposition 2 Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a cocomplete abelian category satisfying (AB5). Let $A$ be an object of $\mathcal{A}$. Let $(A_i)_I$ be a directed family of subobjects of $A$. Then, for every subobject $B$ of $A$, $(\sum A_i) \cap B = \sum (A_i \cap B)$.

Proof: Let $C = \sum A_i$. For each i, we have the following exact sequence.

$0 \rightarrow A_i \cap B \rightarrow A_i \rightarrow C/(C \cap B)$

By (AB5), Lemma 7.3 and Lemma 3, we get the following exact sequence.

$0 \rightarrow \sum (A_i \cap B) \rightarrow C \rightarrow C/(C \cap B)$

Hence $(\sum A_i) \cap B = \sum (A_i \cap B)$. QED

[Math] intersections in abelian category

How are you defining subobject? Do you declare a monomorphism $B \to A$ to be a subobject of $A$ (like Mitchell), or do you define subobjects of $A$ to be certain equivalence classes of monics with target $A$ (like Mac Lane or Freyd)?

In any case, you have the right idea.

If we take the "subobjects are equivalence classes" definition, then recall that the class of subobjects of a given object has a natural partial order. If $u: B \to A$ and $v: C \to A$ represent two subobjects of $A$, we declare $u \leq v$ iff $u$ factors through $v$. The intersection of two subobjects is then their greatest lower bound with respect to this order (as it should be!).

Now, given an arbitrary abelian category, the intersection of any pair of subobjects (of a fixed object) always exists. This is Theorem 2.13 in Freyd's book (ftp://ftp.sam.math.ethz.ch/EMIS/journals/TAC/reprints/articles/3/tr3.pdf), and it's not a hard proof (it's the third theorem he proves about abelian categories).

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Category Theory – Abelian Categories and Axiom (AB5)

[Math] intersections in abelian category

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