Let $(C_i)_{i \in \mathbb{Z}}$ be a chain complex of free abelian groups. Does the rank of the homology and cohomology groups of $(C_i)_{i \in \mathbb{Z}}$ always coincide, i.e. is
$$\operatorname{rank}(H_i(C_*))=\operatorname{rank}(H^i(C_*))$$
for every integer i?
If every homology group $H_i(C_*)$ is finitely generated, we can use a combination of the universal coefficients theorem and the fundamental theorem for finitely generated abelian groups to show this fact.
But is it also true in the case where the homology groups are not finitely generated?
Best Answer
Here is a counterexample: let $$C_i = \begin{cases} \bigoplus_{n \in \mathbb{N}} \mathbb{Z} & i = 0 \\ 0 & i \neq 0 \end{cases}$$ with the zero differential. Then
It's possible even when the $H_i$ have finite rank that the cohomology has bigger rank. Let: $$C_i = \begin{cases} \bigoplus_{n \in \mathbb{N}} \mathbb{Z} & i = 0,1 \\ 0 & i \neq 0,1 \end{cases}$$ and the differential $d : C_1 \to C_0$ is given by multiplication by $2^n$ on the $n$th factor (so that $d(C_1) = \bigoplus 2^n \mathbb{Z}$).