TITLE: Isomorphisms involving localisation of graded rings
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: I have been trying to establish an isomorphic concerning graded rings, and there is a last step that I'm confused about. 
Let $R$ be a $\Bbb{Z}$ - graded ring. Let $f$ be a homogeneous non-nilpotent element of degree $1$ in $R$. Let $R_f$ denote the localisation $S^{-1}R$ where $S = \{1,f,f^2 \ldots ...\}$. It is not hard to see that $R_f$ is also a graded ring and we denote by $(R_f)_0$ the degree zero component of $R_f$. Let $t$ be an indeterminate, I have established the following isomorphisms:

 The "?" on the bottom left corner of the diagram is something that I want to establish. Now firstly when I try to identify $\ker \pi \phi = \phi^{-1} (\ker \pi)$, I am curious to know if the ideal $(f-1)$ in $R_f$ is actually the extension of the ideal $(f-1)$ in $R$. Sorry for the bad notation, but perhaps I should call the one in $R_f$ say $(f-1)^e$ and the one in $R$ just $(f-1)$. Perhaps they are actually the same? 
The dotted arrows from "?" to $R_f/(f-1)$ indicate some map that I am trying to establish. I believe such a map is an isomorphism, and I want to prove this using the first isomorphism theorem. The problem is I don't know if $\pi \phi$ is surjective so how can I conclude such an isomorphism exists? Perhaps it may not be true after all.
Thanks.

REPLY [3 votes]: Of cause, your idea is right: Passing to the quotient where $f$ is unity isn't affected by localizing at $f$ first. Anyway, localizing commutes with quotients (see comments above) and we have a commutative diagram $$\newcommand{\da}[1]{\left\downarrow{\scriptstyle#1}\vphantom{\displaystyle\sum}\right.}
\begin{array}{c}
R & \longrightarrow & R_f \\
\da{\;}&  & \da{\;}\\
R/(f-1) & \xrightarrow{\varphi} & R_f/(f-1)
\end{array},$$
where $\varphi$ is the composition of canonical maps $R/(f-1)\xrightarrow{\psi} (R/(f-1))_f \;\tilde\to\; R_f/(f-1)$. To see that this is an isomorphism, you indeed could use the homomorphism theorems, but its easier.
The latter arrow is the canonical isomorphism and the former ($\psi$) is localizing. Hence, if we view $(R/(f-1))_f$ as $(R/(f-1))[u]/(fu-1)$, $\psi$ is just inclusion $R/(f-1)\hookrightarrow(R/(f-1))[u]$ and projection. On the other hand we have
$$(R/(f-1))[u]/(fu-1) = (R/(f-1))[u]/(u-1) \cong R/(f-1),$$ where reading backwards, the isomorphism is nothing but inclusion $R/(f-1)\hookrightarrow(R/(f-1))[u]$ and projection. Hence there is the commuting diagram
$$\newcommand{\da}[1]{\left\downarrow{\scriptstyle#1}\vphantom{\displaystyle\sum}\right.}
\begin{array}{c}
R/(f-1) & \xrightarrow{\psi} & (R/(f-1))_f \\
\;& \searrow & \da{\;}\\
\; & \; & (R/(f-1))[u]/(fu-1)
\end{array}$$
of $\searrow$ and $\downarrow$ being isomorphisms, such that $\psi$ is so, as desired.