Bounds on the minimal number of generators of the dual module

Let [Formula: see text] be a Cohen–Macaulay local ring. Let [Formula: see text] be a finitely generated [Formula: see text]-module and let [Formula: see text] denote the [Formula: see text]-dual of [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, if [Formula: see text] is a maximal Cohen–Macaulay [Formula: see text]-module, then we prove that [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the cardinality of a minimal generating set of [Formula: see text] as an [Formula: see text]-module and [Formula: see text] is the multiplicity of the local ring [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, if [Formula: see text] is a reflexive [Formula: see text]-module then [Formula: see text]. As an application, we study the bound on the minimal number of generators of specific modules over two-dimensional normal local rings. We also mention some relevant examples.