In abstract algebra, one uses homology to define derived functors, for example the Tor functors. Here one starts with some covariant additive functor F and some module X. The chain complex for X is defined as follows: first find a free module and a surjective homomorphism Then one finds a free module and a surjective homomorphism Continuing in this fashion, a sequence of free modules and homomorphisms can be defined. By applying the functor F to this sequence, one obtains a chain complex; the homology of this complex depends only on F and X and is, by definition, the n-th derived functor of F, applied to X.
In abstract algebra, one uses homology to define derived functors, for example the Tor functors. Here one starts with some covariant additive functor F and some module X. The chain complex for X is defined as follows: first find a free module and a surjective homomorphism Then one finds a free module and a surjective homomorphism Continuing in this fashion, a sequence of free modules and homomorphisms can be defined. By applying the functor F to this sequence, one obtains a chain complex; the homology of this complex depends only on F and X and is, by definition, the n-th derived functor of F, applied to X.