Almost Projective Modules over Artin Algebras

The main result of this paper is a characterization of almost projective modules over art in algebras by means of irreducible maps and almost split sequences. A module X is an almost projective module if and only if it has a presentation $0{\longrightarrow}L{\longrightarrow^{\alpha}}P{\longrightarrow}X{\longrightarrow}0$ with projective module P and irreducible maps ${\alpha}$. Let X be an injective almost projective non simple module and $0{\rightarrow}Dtr(x){\rightarrow}E{\rightarrow}X{\rightarrow}0$ be an almost split sequence. If $E=E_1{\oplus}E_2$ is a direct decomposition of indecomposable modules then ${\ell}(X)=3$.