Image sheaf isomorphism : another proof? (Exercise 2.1.4 in Hartshorne)

algebraic-geometrysheaf-theory

Assume you have a sheaf morphism $f:\mathcal{F} \rightarrow \mathcal{G}$ and consider the sheafification of the presheaf $\textrm{im}(f)$. I want to prove that it's isomorphic to a sub sheaf of $\mathcal{G}$. I basically do this by showing that whenever there is an injective morphism of presheaves $\mathcal{F} \rightarrow \mathcal{G}$, the morphism induced on the sheafifications is still injective, hence I can conclude. It's basically Exercise 2.1.4 in Hartshorne. The inclusion $i :\textrm{im}(f)(U) \rightarrow \mathcal{G}(U)$ is injective for all $U$ so the argument applies to my situation. The thing is that the proof is pretty long in this way and I was wondering if there is a more direct way of proving it exploiting the specifics of this context rather than prove it for every injective morphism of presheaves.
Thanks in advance.

Best Answer

If you showed part (a) in exercise 2.1.4, then you are almost done for (b) ! And I don't think there is any easier way that this. It might look too long for you now, but in a few months, I believe that you will actually find this proof rather short !

Indeed, you have a morphism of presheaves $$\mathrm{im}(f) \to \mathscr G,$$ which is injective on each open set $U$, so by (a) you get an injective morphism of sheaves $$\mathrm{im}(f)^+ \to \scr G^+.$$

But $\scr G$ is a sheaf by assumption, so that $\scr G^+ \cong G$. Therefore, the image sheaf $\mathrm{im}(f)^+$ is isomorphic to a subsheaf of $\scr G$