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I am working on Ch 14 problem 4.6 from Artin's Algebra textbook.

Let $φ:\mathbb{Z}^k\to\mathbb{Z}^k$ be a homomorphism defined by $φ(x)=Ax$, where $A$ is some $k\times k$ integer matrix. Show that the image of $φ$ is of finite index iff $A$ is nonsingular and that if so, the index is equal to $|detA|$.

Now, I have completed the proof of this problem, but with the exception of an intermediate step which is not obvious to me.

I need to show $\mathbb{Z}^k/A\mathbb{Z}^k \cong \mathbb{Z}^k/A'\mathbb{Z}^k$ where $A'$ is the Smith normal form of $A$ and $A\neq0.$

I would prefer to find an explicit isomorphism $ψ:\mathbb{Z}^k/A\mathbb{Z}^k\to\mathbb{Z}^k/A'\mathbb{Z}^k$. But defining $ψ(x+A\mathbb{Z}^k)=x+A'\mathbb{Z}^k$ doesn't seem to work. What will work?

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2 Answers 2

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We have $A'= P A Q$, where $P,Q$ are invertible $k \times k$ integer matrices. They correspond to change of basis in the domain and codomain of $\varphi$. Draw a commutative diagram matching $\varphi$ and $\varphi': \mathbb{Z}^k\to\mathbb{Z}^k$ given by $x \mapsto A'x$.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you but, alas, I do not know how to work with commutative diagrams and would prefer to find the isomorphism directly and explicitly. I would like to perhaps define some isomorphism $ψ:\mathbb{Z}^k/A\mathbb{Z}^k\to\mathbb{Z}^k/A'\mathbb{Z}^k$ by $ψ(x+A\mathbb{Z}^k)=\square+A'\mathbb{Z}^k$. But what is $\square$? Is it $Px$, or $P^{-1}x$, or $Qx$, or $Q^{-1}x$, or something else? $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 23, 2018 at 18:57
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Try $ψ(x+A\mathbb{Z}^k)=Q^{-1}x+A'\mathbb{Z}^k$, where $A'$=$Q^{-1}AP$.

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