On semilocal modules and rings

Abstract

It is well-known that a ring R is semiperfect if and only if RR (or RR) is a supplemented module. Considering weak supplements instead of supplements we show that weakly supplemented modules M are semilocal (i.e., M/Rad(M) is semisimple) and that R is a semilocal ring if and only if RR (or RR) is weakly supplemented. In this context the notion of finite hollow dimension (or finite dual Goldie dimension) of modules is of interest and yields a natural interpretation of the Camps-Dicks characterization of semilocal rings. Finitely generated modules are weakly supplemented if and only if they have finite hollow dimension (or are semilocal).