Universal Properties

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1 A categorical look at undergraduate algebra and topology Julia Goedecke Newnham College 24 February 2017, Archimedeans Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

2 1 Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction 2 Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

3 Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction 1 Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction 2 Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

4 What is Abstraction? Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Abstraction Take example/situation/idea. Determine some (important) properties. Lift those away from the example/situation/idea. Work with abstracted properties. Should get many more examples which also fit these lifted properties. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

5 What is Abstraction? Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Abstraction Take example/situation/idea. Determine some (important) properties. Lift those away from the example/situation/idea. Work with abstracted properties. Should get many more examples which also fit these lifted properties. Examples My pet and my friend s pet are both cats. Cats, dogs, dolphins are all mamals. My home, my old school, the maths department are all buildings. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

6 Numbers Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction The probably most important step of abstraction in the history of mathematics: 3 apples 3 Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

Numbers Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction The probably most important step of abstraction in the history of mathematics: 3 apples 3 After that also (not necessarily in

7 Numbers Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction The probably most important step of abstraction in the history of mathematics: 3 apples 3 After that also (not necessarily in this order) negative numbers (abstraction of debt?) rational numbers (abstraction of proportions) real numbers (abstraction of lengths) Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

8 More examples Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Groups Addition in Z, clock addition (mod n) and composing symmetries have similar properties. Isolate the properties. Define an abstract group. Get lots more examples, and a whole area of mathematics. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

9 More examples Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Groups Addition in Z, clock addition (mod n) and composing symmetries have similar properties. Isolate the properties. Define an abstract group. Get lots more examples, and a whole area of mathematics. Equivalence relations Study equality, congruence (mod n) and having same image under a function. Isolate: reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity. Define equivalence relation. Work with the abstract idea rather than one example... Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

10 One more level of abstraction Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction We notice throughout our studies that certain objects come with special maps: objects sets groups rings modules/vector spaces topological spaces structure preserving maps functions group homomorphisms ring homomorphisms linear maps continuous maps Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

11 One more level of abstraction What do they have in common? Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

12 One more level of abstraction What do they have in common? We can compose them: Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction A B C Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

13 One more level of abstraction What do they have in common? We can compose them: Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction A B C There is an identity: A 1 A A f B = A f B = A f B 1 B B Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

14 One more level of abstraction What do they have in common? We can compose them: Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction A B C There is an identity: A 1 A A f B = A f B = A f B 1 B B Composition is associative: (h g) f = h (g f ) A f B g C h D Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

15 Definition of a category Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction A category C consists of a collection obc of objects A, B, C,... and for each pair of objects A, B obc, a collection C(A, B) = Hom C (A, B) of morphisms f : A B, equipped with Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

16 Definition of a category Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction A category C consists of a collection obc of objects A, B, C,... and for each pair of objects A, B obc, a collection C(A, B) = Hom C (A, B) of morphisms f : A B, equipped with for each A obc, a morphism 1 A : A A, the identity, for each tripel A, B, C obc, a composition : Hom(A, B) Hom(B, C) Hom(A, C) such that the following axioms hold: (f, g) g f Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

17 Definition of a category Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction A category C consists of a collection obc of objects A, B, C,... and for each pair of objects A, B obc, a collection C(A, B) = Hom C (A, B) of morphisms f : A B, equipped with for each A obc, a morphism 1 A : A A, the identity, for each tripel A, B, C obc, a composition : Hom(A, B) Hom(B, C) Hom(A, C) such that the following axioms hold: (f, g) g f 1 Identity: For f : A B we have f 1 A = f = 1 B f. 2 Associativity: For f : A B, g : B C and h : C D we have h (g f ) = (h g) f. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

18 What is? Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction One more level of abstraction. is mathematics about mathematics. addition, symmetries groups equality and congruence equivalence relations whole numbers ring theory categories A language for mathematicians. A way of thinking. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

19 Categorical point of view Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction In category theory: We are not only interested in objects (such as sets, groups,...), but how different objects of the same kind relate to each other. We are interested in global structures and connections. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

20 Categorical point of view Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction In category theory: We are not only interested in objects (such as sets, groups,...), but how different objects of the same kind relate to each other. We are interested in global structures and connections. Motto of category theory We want to really understand how and why things work, so that we can present them in a way which makes everything look obvious. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

21 Examples of categories Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Any collection of sets with a certain structure and structure-preserving maps will form a category. But also: Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

22 Examples of categories Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Any collection of sets with a certain structure and structure-preserving maps will form a category. But also: A group G is a one-object category with the group elements as morphisms: e G is identity morphism. group multiplication is composition. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

23 Examples of categories Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction Any collection of sets with a certain structure and structure-preserving maps will form a category. But also: A group G is a one-object category with the group elements as morphisms: e G is identity morphism. group multiplication is composition. A poset P is a category: The elements of P are the objects. Hom(x, y) has one element if x y, empty otherwise. Reflexivity gives identities. Transitivity gives composition. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

24 1 Maths is Abstraction : more abstraction 2 Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

25 Universal Property Template Template P some property. A particular X is universal for P if it has the property P, and if any Y also has property P, then there is a unique map between X and Y which fits with the property P. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

26 Universal Property Template Template P some property. A particular X is universal for P if it has the property P, and if any Y also has property P, then there is a unique map between X and Y which fits with the property P. Note: could be unique map X Y or Y X. We specify this for each particular case. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

27 Terminal objects First example: property P = is an object ( empty property ). Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

28 Terminal objects First example: property P = is an object ( empty property ). Definition An object T obc is called terminal object when there is, for every A obc, a unique morphism A T in C. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

29 Terminal objects First example: property P = is an object ( empty property ). Definition An object T obc is called terminal object when there is, for every A obc, a unique morphism A T in C. Examples Sets X: exactly one function X { }. Groups G: exactly one group hom G 0 = {e}. Vector spaces V : exactly one linear map V 0. Top. spaces X: exactly one continuous map X { }. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

30 Initial objects P = is an object, but unique arrow from rather than unique arrow to. Definition An object I obc is called initial object when there is, for every A obc, a unique morphism I A in the category C. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

31 Initial objects P = is an object, but unique arrow from rather than unique arrow to. Definition An object I obc is called initial object when there is, for every A obc, a unique morphism I A in the category C. Examples Groups G: exactly one group hom 0 G. Vector spaces V : exactly one linear map 0 V. Rings R: exactly one ring homomorphism Z R. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

32 Initial objects P = is an object, but unique arrow from rather than unique arrow to. Definition An object I obc is called initial object when there is, for every A obc, a unique morphism I A in the category C. Examples Groups G: exactly one group hom 0 G. Vector spaces V : exactly one linear map 0 V. Rings R: exactly one ring homomorphism Z R. Sets X: exactly one function X. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

33 Initial objects P = is an object, but unique arrow from rather than unique arrow to. Definition An object I obc is called initial object when there is, for every A obc, a unique morphism I A in the category C. Examples Groups G: exactly one group hom 0 G. Vector spaces V : exactly one linear map 0 V. Rings R: exactly one ring homomorphism Z R. Sets X: exactly one function X. Topological spaces: also. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

34 Products Universal property of a product A B A π 1 π 2 B Product is universal with property: equipped with a map to A and a map to B. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

35 Products Universal property of a product A f C!h A B π 1 g π 2 B Product is universal with property: equipped with a map to A and a map to B. Preserve the property : π 1 h = f and π 2 h = g. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

36 Products Universal property of a product A f C!h A B π 1 g π 2 B Product is universal with property: equipped with a map to A and a map to B. Preserve the property : π 1 h = f and π 2 h = g. Examples Sets: cartesian product A B = {(a, b) a A, b B}. Groups: cartesian product with pointwise group structure. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

37 Products Universal property of a product A f C!h A B π 1 g π 2 B Product is universal with property: equipped with a map to A and a map to B. Preserve the property : π 1 h = f and π 2 h = g. Examples Sets: cartesian product A B = {(a, b) a A, b B}. Groups: cartesian product with pointwise group structure. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

38 Products Universal property of a product A f C!h A B π 1 g π 2 B Product is universal with property: equipped with a map to A and a map to B. Preserve the property : π 1 h = f and π 2 h = g. Examples Sets: cartesian product A B = {(a, b) a A, b B}. Groups: cartesian product with pointwise group structure. Top. spaces: Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

39 Products Universal property of a product A f C!h A B π 1 g π 2 B Product is universal with property: equipped with a map to A and a map to B. Preserve the property : π 1 h = f and π 2 h = g. Examples Sets: cartesian product A B = {(a, b) a A, b B}. Groups: cartesian product with pointwise group structure. Top. spaces: cartesian product with the product topology. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

40 Coproducts Universal property of a coproduct A B ι 1 A + B Property: equipped with a map from A and a map from B. ι 2 Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

41 Coproducts Universal property of a coproduct A ι 1 f ι 2 A + B!h C g B Property: equipped with a map from A and a map from B. Preserve the property : h ι 1 = f and h ι 2 = g. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

42 Coproducts Universal property of a coproduct A ι 1 f ι 2 A + B!h C g B Property: equipped with a map from A and a map from B. Preserve the property : h ι 1 = f and h ι 2 = g. Examples disjoint union of sets A B. disjoint union of topological spaces. free product of groups G H. (external) direct sum of modules M N = M N. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

43 A stranger example Poset as category: Hom(x, y) has one element if x y, empty otherwise. Universal properties in a poset Terminal object is top element (if it exists). Initial object is bottom element (if it exists). Products are meets (e.g. in a powerset: intersection). Coproducts are joins (e.g. in a powerset: union). Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

44 Uniqueness Any universal object is unique (up to iso) Suppose X, Y both universal for P. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

45 Uniqueness Any universal object is unique (up to iso) Suppose X, Y both universal for P. unique f : X Y and g : Y X commuting with P. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

46 Uniqueness Any universal object is unique (up to iso) Suppose X, Y both universal for P. unique f : X Y and g : Y X commuting with P. Then g f : X X also commutes with P. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

47 Uniqueness Any universal object is unique (up to iso) Suppose X, Y both universal for P. unique f : X Y and g : Y X commuting with P. Then g f : X X also commutes with P. Identity 1 X : X X always commutes with P. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

48 Uniqueness Any universal object is unique (up to iso) Suppose X, Y both universal for P. unique f : X Y and g : Y X commuting with P. Then g f : X X also commutes with P. Identity 1 X : X X always commutes with P. But have unique such: so 1 X = g f. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

49 Uniqueness Any universal object is unique (up to iso) Suppose X, Y both universal for P. unique f : X Y and g : Y X commuting with P. Then g f : X X also commutes with P. Identity 1 X : X X always commutes with P. But have unique such: so 1 X = g f. Similarly 1 Y = f g. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

50 Uniqueness Any universal object is unique (up to iso) Suppose X, Y both universal for P. unique f : X Y and g : Y X commuting with P. Then g f : X X also commutes with P. Identity 1 X : X X always commutes with P. But have unique such: so 1 X = g f. Similarly 1 Y = f g. So X = Y. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

51 Turning around arrows Initial is opposite of terminal Terminal T : for all A,! map A T. Initial I: for all A,! map A I. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

52 Turning around arrows Initial is opposite of terminal Terminal T : for all A,! map A T. Initial I: for all A,! map A I. Coproduct is opposite of product A f C!h A B π 1 g π 2 B A f C!h A + B ι 1 g ι 2 B Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

53 Coinciding properties Zero objects For groups and modules, initial = terminal. Define zero-object 0 to be both initial and terminal. Gives at least one map between any two objects: A 0 B Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

54 Coinciding properties Zero objects For groups and modules, initial = terminal. Define zero-object 0 to be both initial and terminal. Gives at least one map between any two objects: A 0 B Direct products Direct product is both product and coproduct. E.g. direct sum of modules (vector spaces, abelian groups...) Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

55 Kernels Universal property of a kernel!l K k A f B C g Kernel of f is universal map whose post-composition with f is zero. 0 Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

56 Kernels Universal property of a kernel!l K k A f B C g Kernel of f is universal map whose post-composition with f is zero. In terms of elements K = {k A f (k) = 0}, k the inclusion into A. 0 Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

57 Cokernels: turn around the arrows Universal property of a cokernel A f B q Q 0 Cokernel of f is universal map whose pre-composition with f is zero. g C!p Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

58 Cokernels: turn around the arrows Universal property of a cokernel A f B q Q 0 Cokernel of f is universal map whose pre-composition with f is zero. g C In modules/vector spaces/abelian groups!p Q = B/Im(f ) = {b + Im(f )}, q the quotient map. A Im(f ) B B/Im(f ) Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

59 Tensor Product Tensor Product of Vector Spaces/Modules V W ϕ V W h!h U ϕ is universal bilinear map out of V W, tensor product U V makes bilinear h into linear h. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

60 Tensor Product Tensor Product of Vector Spaces/Modules V W ϕ V W h!h U ϕ is universal bilinear map out of V W, tensor product U V makes bilinear h into linear h. Construction Actual construction is complicated and slightly tedious. Working with universal property is often easier than with the elements. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

61 Abelianisation Abelianisation of a group G ab G! A Every group hom to an abelian group A factors uniquely through the abelianisation. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

62 Abelianisation Abelianisation of a group G ab G! A Every group hom to an abelian group A factors uniquely through the abelianisation. Construction ab G = G/[G, G] [G, G] is commutator: normal subgroup generated by all aba 1 b 1. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

63 Field of fractions Field of fractions of an integral domain R F! K Every injective ring hom to a field K factors uniquely through the field of fractions. Smallest field into which R can be embedded. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

64 Field of fractions Field of fractions of an integral domain R F! K Every injective ring hom to a field K factors uniquely through the field of fractions. Smallest field into which R can be embedded. Construction F = {(a, b) R R b 0}/ equivalence relation is (a, b) (c, d) iff ad = bc. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

65 Stone-Čech Compactification Compactification of a topological space X βx! K Every continuous map to a compact Hausdorff space K factors uniquely through the Stone-Čech compactification. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

66 Stone-Čech Compactification Compactification of a topological space X βx! K Every continuous map to a compact Hausdorff space K factors uniquely through the Stone-Čech compactification. Generalisation Abelianisation and Stone-Čech compactification are examples of adjunctions: very important concept in. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

67 Why bother? Advantages of Tidyier: details may be messy, working with universal property can give clear and elegant proofs. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

68 Why bother? Advantages of Tidyier: details may be messy, working with universal property can give clear and elegant proofs. Transferable: situations with different details may have same universal property: transfer ideas/proofs/... Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

69 Why bother? Advantages of Tidyier: details may be messy, working with universal property can give clear and elegant proofs. Transferable: situations with different details may have same universal property: transfer ideas/proofs/... Functorial: defining things via universal properties gives them good categorical properties (used all over maths). Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

70 Why bother? Advantages of Tidyier: details may be messy, working with universal property can give clear and elegant proofs. Transferable: situations with different details may have same universal property: transfer ideas/proofs/... Functorial: defining things via universal properties gives them good categorical properties (used all over maths). Useful: e.g. to show two objects are isomorphic, show they satisfy same universal property. Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

71 Thanks for listening! Julia Goedecke (Newnham) 24/02/ / 30

Adjunctions! Everywhere!

Adjunctions! Everywhere! Carnegie Mellon University Thursday 19 th September 2013 Clive Newstead Abstract What do free groups, existential quantifiers and Stone-Čech compactifications all have in common?