We investigate Buchbaum and Eisenbud's construction of the second symmetric power $s_R(X)$ of a chain complex $X$ of modules over a commutative ring $R$. We state and prove a number of results from the folklore of the subject for which we know of no good direct references. We also provide several explicit computations and examples. We use this construction to prove the following vers...

we investigate buchbaum and eisenbud's construction of the second symmetric power $s_r(x)$ of a chain complex $x$ of modules over a commutative ring $r$. we state and prove a number of results from the folklore of the subject for which we know of no good direct references. we also provide several explicit computations and examples. we use this construction to prove the following ...