Serre linear representations of finite groups, page $163$: Let $A$ be a ring, and let $\mathcal{F}$ be a category of left $A$-modules. The Grothendieck group of $\mathcal{F}$, denoted $K(\mathcal{F})$, is the abelian group defined by generators and relations as follows: Generators. A generator $[E]$ is associated with each $E\in\mathcal{F}$. Relations. The relation $[E]=[E']+[E'']$ is associated with each exact sequence:
$$0\to E\to E'\to E''\to 0,$$
where $E,E',E"'\in\mathcal{F}$.
just to check, there is an error in the above right this isn't equivalent to taking the relation as $[E']=[E]…