If $\mathcal{C}$ is an abelian category and $f: X \rightarrow Y$ a morphism in this category, we can define the image and coimage as $coim(f) = coker(ker (f))$ and $im(f) = ker (coker(f))$.
Then this is equivalent to the general definition of images and coimages. How do I get the corresponding diagrams (and universal properties) that characterize these constructions like here on Wikipedia (in the general definition as (1))?
I've tried to compute the diagrams by taking those of the kernels and cokernels and then merge it all together but somehow I get a differing diagram that does not match.
Best Answer
Notice firstly that $f(\operatorname{ker}f) = 0$ and $(\operatorname{coker}f)f = 0$. Use this to argue that $f = (\operatorname{im}f)f''(\operatorname{coim} f)$.
Once you've done that, we want to argue that $f''$ is an isomorphism. Thus $f = (\operatorname{im}f)(\operatorname{coim} f)$, justifying the factorization $f = me$, where $m$ is monic and $e$ epi. This is, in my view, where most of the work is.
After that, uniqueness (i.e. the universal property) more or less follows from the corresponding uniqueness and universal property statement for kernels, so I'll leave that to you.
Showing that $f''$ is an isomorphism requires some machinery, at least the way I know how (which is an amalgamation of Mac Lane's and Borceux's treatments): I feel a little strange screenshotting my own notes, but I don't know how to use AMS commutative diagrams, so
The bit on the next page is just noting that $mx = 0$, so since $m$ is monic, $x = 0$. To buy that this shows that $f''$ is an isomorphism, you have to know that in abelian categories,