TITLE: Noetherian property for exact sequence
QUESTION [9 upvotes]: Let $0 \to M' \xrightarrow{\alpha} M \xrightarrow{\beta} M'' \to 0$ be an exact sequence of $A$-modules. Then $M$ is Noetherian is equivalent to $M'$ and $M''$ are Noetherian.
For the ''$\Leftarrow$'' case:  I guess if we let $(L_n)_{n\geq 1}$ be an ascending chain of submodules of $M$, then $(\alpha ^{-1}(L_n))_{n\geq 1}$ is a chain in $M'$, and $(\beta(L_n))_{n\geq 1}$ is a chain in  $M''$. For large $n$ both these chains are stationary. Then why we know the chain $(L_n)$ is stationary? 
Thanks!

REPLY [22 votes]: This follows immediately from the Five Lemma applied to
$$\begin{array}{c} 0 & \longrightarrow & \alpha^{-1}(L_n) & \longrightarrow & L_n & \longrightarrow & \beta(L_n) & \longrightarrow & 0 \\ & & \downarrow && \downarrow && \downarrow & \\ 0 & \longrightarrow & \alpha^{-1}(L_{n+1}) & \longrightarrow & L_{n+1} & \longrightarrow & \beta(L_{n+1}) & \longrightarrow & 0.\end{array}$$