Formulas for the multiplicity of graded algebras

Abstract

Let $R$ be a standard graded Noetherian algebra over an Artinian local ring. Motivated by the work of Achilles and Manaresi in intersection theory, we first express the multiplicity of $R$ by means of local $j$-multiplicities of various hyperplane sections. When applied to a homogeneous inclusion $A\subseteq B$ of standard graded Noetherian algebras over an Artinian local ring, this formula yields the multiplicity of $A$ in terms of that of $B$ and of local $j$-multiplicities of hyperplane sections along $\mathrm{Proj}(B)$. Our formulas can be used to find the multiplicity of special fiber rings and to obtain the degree of dual varieties for any hypersurface. In particular, it gives a generalization of Teissier's Plücker formula to hypersurfaces with non-isolated singularities. Our work generalizes results by Simis, Ulrich and Vasconcelos on homogeneous embeddings of graded algebras.

To appear in Transactions of American Mathematical Society