@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ for each $n \in \N$. The nice things about these maps is that every map in $\DEL
\end{figure}
\end{figure}
\begin{definition}
\begin{definition}
An simplicial abelian group $A$ is a contravariant functor:
An simplicial abelian group $A$ is a covariant functor:
$$A: \DELTA^{op}\to\Ab.$$
$$A: \DELTA^{op}\to\Ab.$$
(Or equivalently a contravariant functor $A: \DELTA\to\Ab.$)
\end{definition}
\end{definition}
So the category of all simplicial abelian groups, $\sAb$, is the functor category $\Ab^{\DELTA^{op}}$, where morphisms are natural transformations. Because the face and degeneracy maps give all the maps in $\DELTA$ it is sufficient to define images of $\delta_i$ and $\sigma_i$ in order to define a functor $A: \DELTA^{op}\to Ab$. And hence we can picture a simplicial abelian group as done in figure~\ref{fig:simplicial_abelian_group}. Comparing this to figure~\ref{fig:delta_cat} we see that the arrows are reversed, because $A$ is a contravariant functor.
So the category of all simplicial abelian groups, $\sAb$, is the functor category $\Ab^{\DELTA^{op}}$, where morphisms are natural transformations. Because the face and degeneracy maps give all the maps in $\DELTA$ it is sufficient to define images of $\delta_i$ and $\sigma_i$ in order to define a functor $A: \DELTA^{op}\to Ab$. And hence we can picture a simplicial abelian group as done in figure~\ref{fig:simplicial_abelian_group}. Comparing this to figure~\ref{fig:delta_cat} we see that the arrows are reversed, because $A$ is a contravariant functor.
@ -75,9 +76,12 @@ When using a simplicial abelian group to construct another object, it is often h
Of course the abstract definition of simplicial abelian group can easilty be generalized to other categories. For example $\Set^{\DELTA^{op}}=\sSet$ is the category of simplicial sets. There are very important simplicial sets:
Of course the abstract definition of simplicial abelian group can easilty be generalized to other categories. For example $\Set^{\DELTA^{op}}=\sSet$ is the category of simplicial sets. There are very important simplicial sets:
Note that indeed $\Hom{\DELTA}{X}{[n]}\in\Set$, because the collection of morphisms in a category is per definition a set. We do not need to specify the face or degeneracy maps, as we already know that $\mathbf{Hom}$ is a functor (in both arguments).
\todo{sAb: as example do $\Delta[n]$}
\todo{sAb: as example do $\Delta[n]$}
\todo{sAb: as example do the free abelian group pointwise}
\todo{sAb: as example do the free abelian group pointwise}