Basic theorems in algebraic K-theory

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Short description: Four mathematical theorems

In mathematics, there are several theorems basic to algebraic K-theory.

Throughout, for simplicity, we assume when an exact category is a subcategory of another exact category, we mean it is strictly full subcategory (i.e., isomorphism-closed.)

Theorems

Additivity theorem[1] — Let [math]\displaystyle{ B, C }[/math] be exact categories (or other variants). Given a short exact sequence of functors [math]\displaystyle{ F' \rightarrowtail F \twoheadrightarrow F'' }[/math] from [math]\displaystyle{ B }[/math] to [math]\displaystyle{ C }[/math], [math]\displaystyle{ F_* \simeq F'_* + F''_* }[/math] as [math]\displaystyle{ H }[/math]-space maps; consequently, [math]\displaystyle{ F_* = F'_* + F''_*: K_i(B) \to K_i(C) }[/math].

The localization theorem generalizes the localization theorem for abelian categories.

Waldhausen Localization Theorem[2] — Let [math]\displaystyle{ A }[/math] be the category with cofibrations, equipped with two categories of weak equivalences, [math]\displaystyle{ v(A) \subset w(A) }[/math], such that [math]\displaystyle{ (A, v) }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ (A, w) }[/math] are both Waldhausen categories. Assume [math]\displaystyle{ (A, w) }[/math] has a cylinder functor satisfying the Cylinder Axiom, and that [math]\displaystyle{ w(A) }[/math] satisfies the Saturation and Extension Axioms. Then

[math]\displaystyle{ K(A^w) \to K(A, v) \to K(A, w) }[/math]

is a homotopy fibration.

Resolution theorem[3] — Let [math]\displaystyle{ C \subset D }[/math] be exact categories. Assume

  • (i) C is closed under extensions in D and under the kernels of admissible surjections in D.
  • (ii) Every object in D admits a resolution of finite length by objects in C.

Then [math]\displaystyle{ K_i(C) = K_i(D) }[/math] for all [math]\displaystyle{ i \ge 0 }[/math].

Let [math]\displaystyle{ C \subset D }[/math] be exact categories. Then C is said to be cofinal in D if (i) it is closed under extension in D and if (ii) for each object M in D there is an N in D such that [math]\displaystyle{ M \oplus N }[/math] is in C. The prototypical example is when C is the category of free modules and D is the category of projective modules.

Cofinality theorem[4] — Let [math]\displaystyle{ (A, v) }[/math] be a Waldhausen category that has a cylinder functor satisfying the Cylinder Axiom. Suppose there is a surjective homomorphism [math]\displaystyle{ \pi: K_0(A) \to G }[/math] and let [math]\displaystyle{ B }[/math] denote the full Waldhausen subcategory of all [math]\displaystyle{ X }[/math] in [math]\displaystyle{ A }[/math] with [math]\displaystyle{ \pi[X] = 0 }[/math] in [math]\displaystyle{ G }[/math]. Then [math]\displaystyle{ v.s. B \to v.s. A \to BG }[/math] and its delooping [math]\displaystyle{ K(B) \to K(A) \to G }[/math] are homotopy fibrations.

See also

References

  1. Weibel 2013, Ch. V, Additivity Theorem 1.2.
  2. Weibel 2013, Ch. V, Waldhausen Localization Theorem 2.1.
  3. Weibel 2013, Ch. V, Resolution Theorem 3.1.
  4. Weibel 2013, Ch. V, Cofinality Theorem 2.3.