Higher algebraic \(K\)-groups and \(\mathcal {D}\)-split sequences (Q1944827)

Let \(A\) and \(B\) be two rings with identity and let \({\mathcal P}(A)\) (respectively \({\mathcal P}(B)\)) the full subcategories of all finitely generated projective \(A\)-modules in the category of all finitely generated left \(A\)-modules (resp. \(B\)-modules). Let \({\mathcal K}^b(A)\) and \({\mathcal K}^b(B)\) be the bounded homotopy categories of the additive categories \({\mathcal P}(A)\) and \({\mathcal P}(B)\). Let \(D(A)\) (resp. \(D(B)\)) be the unbounded derived triangulated categories of \(A\)-modules (resp. \(B\)-modules) and let \(D^b(A)\) and \(D^b(B)\) be the bounded derived categories. The rings \(A\) are derived equivalent if \(D(A)\) and \(D(B)\) are equivalent as triangulated categories. It is well-known that if \(D^b(A)\) and \(D^b(B)\) are equivalent, then also \(D(A)\) and \(D(B)\) are equivalent. Also \(D^b(A)\) and \(D^b(B)\) are equivalent as triangulated categories iff \({\mathcal K}^b(A)\) and \({\mathcal K}^b(B)\) are equivalent. If two rings are derived equivalent then their algebraic \(K\)-groups are isomorphic: \(K_*(A)\simeq K_*(B)\). In this paper the author employs the \({\mathcal D}\)-split sequences as defined in [\textit{W. Hu} and \textit{C. Xi}, Adv. Math. 227, No. 1, 292--318 (2011; Zbl 1260.16017)], to produce derived equivalences for unbounded derived categories of rings in order to understand the higher \(K\)-theory of some rings. The main result is a calculation of higher algebraic \(K\)-groups of certain matrix subrings \(S\) associated to a collection of ideals \(I_{ij}\) (not necessarily projective) of a ring \(R\), such that \[ I_{kj}\subseteq I_{ij}\text{ for }k\leq i;\;I_{ki}\subseteq I_{kj}\text{ for }j\leq i;\;I_{ik} I_{kj}\subseteq I_{ij}\text{ for }i< k< j. \] Then \(S\) is the matrix ring \[ \begin{pmatrix} R & I_{12} & I_{13} &\cdots & I_{1n}\\ R & R & I_{23} &\cdots & I_{2n}\\ * & * & * & * & *\\ R & R & R & R & I_{n-1n}\\ R & R & R & R & R\end{pmatrix}. \] The \(K\)-theory space of \(S\) splits as a product of the \(K\)-theory spaces of \(R\) and \(R/I_{j-1j}\), with \(2\leq j\leq n\). In particular \[ K_*(S)\simeq K_*\oplus \bigoplus_{2\leq j\leq n} K_*(R/I_{j-ij}). \]