§ Yoneda preserves limits
- Let J be small, C locally small.
- Let F:J→C be a diagram. Let y:C→[Cop,Set] be the contravariant yoneda defined by y(c)≡Hom(−,c).
- Consider y(limF):Cop→Set. Is this equal to lim(y∘F:J→[Cop,Set):Cop→Set?
- We know that limits in functor categories are computed pointwise. So let's start with lim(y∘F):Cop→Set. Let's Evaluate at some e∈Cop.
- That gives us (lim(y∘F))(e)=lim(eve∘y∘F:J→Set):Set.
- Writing the above out, we get lim(eve∘y∘F)=lim(λj.(y(F(j))(e)).
- Plugging in the definition of y, we ge lim(λj.Hom(−,F(j))(e)).
- Simplifying, we get lim(λj.Hom(e,F(j)).
- We know from a previous theorem that limHom(e,F(−))==Hom(e,limF)
- Thus, we get lim(λj.Hom(e,F(j))=Hom(e,limF).
- So we get (lim(y∘F))(e)=Hom(e,limF).
- In general, we get lim(y∘F)=Hom(−,limF), which is the same as y∘limF.
- So we find that lim(y∘F)=y∘limF, thereby proving that yoneda preserves limits.