Let Λ be a ring with unit. If A is a left Λ -module, the dimension of A (notation: 1.dim Λ A ) is defined to be the least integer n for which there exists an exact sequence
0 → X n → … → X 0 → A → 0
where the left Λ -modules X 0 , …, X n are projective. If no such sequence exists for any n , then 1. dim A A = ∞. The left global dimension of Λ is
1. gl. dim Λ = sup 1. dim A A
where A ranges over all left Λ -modules, The condition 1. dim A A < n is equivalent with ( A, C ) = 0 for all left Λ -modules C . The condition 1.gl. dim Λ < n is equivalent with = 0. Similar definitions and theorems hold for right Λ -modules.