TITLE: Showing that if $R$ is a commutative ring and $M$ an $R$-module, then $M \otimes_R (R/\mathfrak m) \cong M / \mathfrak m M$.
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: Let $R$ be a local ring, and let $\mathfrak m$ be the maximal ideal of $R$. Let $M$ be an $R$-module. I understand that $M \otimes_R (R / \mathfrak m)$ is isomorphic to $M / \mathfrak m M$, but I verified this directly by defining a map $M \to M \otimes_R (R / \mathfrak m)$ with kernel $\mathfrak m M$. However I have heard that there is a way to show these are isomorphic using exact sequences and using exactness properties of the tensor product, but I am not sure how to do this. Can anyone explain this approach?
Also can the statement $M \otimes_R (R / \mathfrak m) \cong M / \mathfrak m M$ be generalised at all to non-local rings?

REPLY [7 votes]: Morover, let $I$ be a right ideal of a ring $R$ (noncommutative ring) and $M$ a left $R$-module, then $M/IM\cong R/I\otimes_R M$.