Note that scalar commutes with ring elements.
Examples:
- Field extensions such as $F/E$.
- Polynomial ring $k[X,Y,Z]$.
- Matrix $M_{nm}(k)$ ring (under addition and multiplication) is $k$ algebra. Here we can see that $k$ can commute with elements of $M_{nm}(k)$ but the ring multiplication is non-commutative.
- The set $Hom_k(V,V)$ of $k$-linear maps of $k$ vector spaces forms a $k$-algebra under addition and composition of linear maps.
Finite dimensional $k$ algebra it is a finite dimensional vector space over $k$.
Note ${\cal C}$ is 2 dimensional over ${\cal R}$ etc.,
Bimodules
- $M$ is a left $R$ module, and a right $S$ module.
- for all $r \in R$, $s \in S$ and $m \in M$ \begin{equation}
\label{eq:rs}
(rm)s=r(ms)
\end{equation}
For positive intergers $m,n$, the set of $n \times m$ matrices $M_{nm}(\mathcal{R})$. Here the $R$-module is $n \times n$ matrices $M_{nn}(\mathcal{R})$. And the $S$-module is $m \times m$ matrices $M_{mm}(\mathcal{R})$.
Addition and multiplication are carried out using the usual rules of matrix addition and matrix multiplication; the heights and widths of the matrices have been chosen so that multiplication is defined.
The crucial bimodule property, that $(rx)s = r(xs)$, is the statement that multiplication of matrices is associative.
A ring $R$ is a $R-R$ module.
For $M$ an $S-R$ bimodule and $N$ a $R-T$ bimodule then $M \otimes N$ is a $S-T$bimodule.
Bimodule homomorphism:
For $M,N$ $R-S$ bimodule, bimodule homomorphism $f:M \rightarrow N$ is an right $R$ module homomorphism as well as an right $S$ modules homomorphism.
An $R-S$ bimodule is same as left module over ring $R \otimes_Z S^{op}$ where $S^{op}$ is opposite ring of $S$. Note in opposite ring multiplication is performed in opposite direction of the original ring.
This caused me some confusion initially. $S^{op}$ is a ring with multiplication reversed. Denote multiplication in the righ $S$ by "." and opposite multiplication by "*". So, how does all this work to define a bimodule?
Lets look at $R \otimes_Z S^{op}$ operating on $m \in M$.
\begin{equation}
r s*m = r m.s = (rm)s = r(ms)
\end{equation}
Thus the definition is satisfied. Using $R \otimes_Z S^{op}$ is more nicer.