Depth formula for modules of finite reducing projective dimension (Q7006468)

Let \(R\) be a commutative Noetherian local ring with non-zero identity and all \(R\)-modules are finitely generated. Let \(M,N\) be two \(R\)-modules. In 1961, Auslander proved that if \(\mathrm{pd}_RM<\infty\) and \(\mathrm{Tor}_i^R(M,N)=0\) for all \(i>0,\) then \N\[\N\mathrm{depth}_R(M)+\mathrm{depth}_R(N)=\mathrm{depth}(R)+\mathrm{depth}_R(M\otimes_R N).\N\]\NThe above equality is called \textit{depth formula}. If \(\mathrm{Tor}_i^R(M,N)=0\) for all \(i>0,\) then \(M,N\) are called Tor-independent. The depth formula has been proved to hold true in many cases, such as when \(R\) is a complete intersection ring or when \(R\) is a Cohen-Macaulay local ring with certain conditions on \(M\) and \(N\).\N\NThe first main result is a generalization of \textit{P. A. Bergh} and \textit{D. A. Jorgensen}'s results [Ill. J. Math. 55, No. 2, 465--478 (2011; Zbl 1285.13015)]. Let \(R\) be a Cohen-Macaulay local ring and let \(M\) and \(N\) be Tor-independent \(R\)-modules. If \(M\) has finite reducing projective dimension, then the depth formula holds for \(M\) and \(N.\)\N\NThe authors provided examples indicating that the depth formula fails over certain special rings. Next, the paper contains some description of the number \(\sup\{i\mid \mathrm{Tor}_i^R(M,N)\ne 0\}.\)