Questions tagged [grothendieck-construction]

37 questions
16
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Constructing the category $\mathbf{Grp}$ from the sets of group structures

I was wondering if we can construct the category $\mathbf{Grp}$ of groups from the function $G$ which associates to every set $X$ the set $G(X)$ of group structures on $X$, or what we have to add to this function to make it work. Namely, a group is…
12
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How to show directly that two elements become equal in Grothendieck group?

Consider commutative semigroup S and its Grothendieck completion group G(S).Suppose I insist on defining G(S) as free abelian group on basis $[a]$ (with $a\in S$) divided out by the relations $[a+b]-[a]-[b]$. How do I show with that definition…
7
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Inverse of the Grothendieck group construction?

Is there an "inverse" of the Grothendieck group construction that would generate a (somehow "simplest") Abelian semigroup given some (suitably qualified, if necessary) Abelian group? (I realize that any Abelian group is already an Abelian…
7
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The Collatz Conjecture function should induce a collection of Grothendieck groups, one for each $n \in \Bbb{Z}$ or $\Bbb{N}$. Their properties?

This question is about the Collatz conjecture. Let $\Bbb{N}$ include $0$. The Collatz conjecture function is given by: $$ f: \Bbb{N} \to \Bbb{N}, \\ f(n) = \begin{cases} \dfrac{n}{2}, \text{ if } n = 0 \pmod 2,\\ \dfrac{3n + 1}{2}, \text{ if } n =…
7
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construction of the Witt group

I've seen a couple of constructions of the so-called Witt group: it seems that most authors start with the commutative monoid of isometry classes of quadratic spaces under direct sum, pass to the Grothendieck group, and then quotient out the…
6
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Geometric motivation for Grothendieck fibrations?

What motivation is there for Grothendieck fibrations apart from "that which gives a Grothendieck construction"? I am particularly looking for a geometric motivation along the lines of fibrations in topology. Here are the definitions (if I understand…
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6
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Original article on the Grothendieck group

Is there someone who knows the title of the original publication of Grothendieck on the construction of the Grothendieck group? Thanks in advance.
4
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Grothendieck ring of $Rep(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$

The Grothendieck ring of the abelian category $Rep(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$ of finite-dimensional representations of $\mathfrak{sl}_2$ is, according to Bakalov-Kirillov's Lecture notes on tensor categories and modular functors (Ch.2, page 32), isomorphic…
4
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Property of elements in Grothendieck group

I'm reading Atiyah's K-Theory book and in the section where he introduces the Grothendieck group, he gives two constructions. One of them is as follows: Let $A$ be an abelian semigroup, let $\Delta:A\rightarrow\Delta\times\Delta$ be the diagonal…
4
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Question about construction of The Grothendieck group.

In the Algebra by Serge Lang, he constructed a Grothendieck group of commutative monoid $M$, namely $K(M)$:(page 39-40) $M$ is a commutative monoid. Let $F_{ab} (M)$ be the free abelian group generated by $M$, and denote the generator of $F_{ab}…
4
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Grothendieck group of integer sets with Minkowski addition

Consider a set $Z := \{X\in 2^\mathbb{Z}: \Vert X\Vert < \infty\}\setminus\{\emptyset\} = \{X\in 2^\mathbb{Z}: \Vert X\Vert\in \mathbb{N}_+\}$ and give it an operation of Minkowski addition, that is: $$ A + B = \{a + b: a\in A \ \wedge \ b\in B\}.…
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4
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What is meant by the Grothendieck group being the "best possible" construction of an abelian group from a commutative monoid?

On the wiki page for Grothendieck group, the first sentence says the Grothendieck group is the "best possible" way to construct an abelian group from a commutative monoid. What actually does this mean formally?
3
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Question about terminology regarding "Grothendieck Group," "Grothendieck Ring," perhaps "Grothendieck field"?

Any commutative monoid $M$ has a "Grothendieck group" associated to it, which is universal in the sense that if some other group $G$ has $M$ embedded in it, it also has the Grothendieck group of $M$. If $M$ is also a commutative semiring, we can…
3
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Limits in a Grothendieck fibration

$\newcommand{\E}{\mathcal{E}} \newcommand{\B}{\mathcal{B}}$ I'm currently studying a paper that talks a lot about Grothendieck fibrations and so I'm trying to work with them a bit to get used to them. So I looked at the nLab page to find some…
3
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Where can I find a clear overview of the grothendieck construction?

I have seen the grothendieck construction referenced in the literature several times, but never have found a good clean overview of how it works. How can I go from a stack which is a category fibered in groupoids over a site, let's say…
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