The “retract argument” is a simple but frequently useful standard lemma in discussion of weak factorization systems. It asserts that if a morphism factors as the composition of two factors such that it is has the left or right lifting property against its second or first factor, respectively, then it is a retract (as an object of the arrow category) of the respective other factor.
The retract argument is frequently used in the verification of the axioms of model category structures.
(retract argument)
Then:
If has the left lifting property against , then is a retract of .
If has the right lifting property against , then is a retract of .
Here by a retract of a morphism in some category is meant a retract of as an object in the arrow category , hence a morphism such that in there is a factorization of the identity on through
This means equivalently that in there is a commuting diagram of the form
We discuss the first statement, the second is formally dual.
Write the factorization of as a commuting square of the form
By the assumed lifting property of against there exists a diagonal filler making a commuting diagram of the form
By rearranging this diagram a little, it is equivalent to
Completing this to the right, this yields a diagram exhibiting the required retract according to remark :
Last revised on March 22, 2016 at 08:32:59. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.