Category of chain complexes
The category of chain complexes
Limits and colimits
- Both Initial and terminal objects are the trivial complexes.
- The coproduct is given by the sum of constituent modules
Proof of (co)limits
Consider the trivial chain complex
of trivial modules with trivial homomorphisms between them. Clearly for any chain complex the following diagram commutes
Moreover no other vertical morphisms are definable, let alone commuting. Therefore
is the initial and terminal object of . Let
and be chain complexes. The sequence is a well defined chain complex, since The following diagram commutes with unique vertical morphisms due to the coproduct in
.
Hence
is the coproduct of and .
Homology functor
This functor preserves initial and terminal objects in a trivial fashion, as well as coproducts. prove
Proof of functor
Consider the identity chain map
. Then already has the property that that , hence . Now consider chain complex , , and with chain maps and . Then as required.