The ({\em classical}, {\em small quantum}, {\em equivariant}) cohomology ring of the grassmannian $G(k,n)$ is generated by certain derivations operating on an exterior algebra of a free module of rank $n$ ( Schubert calculus on a Grassmann algebra). Our main result gives, in a unified way, a presentation of all such cohomology rings in terms of generators and relations. Using results of Laksov and Thorup, it also provides a presentation of the universal factorization algebra of a monic polynomial of degree $n$ into the product of two monic polynomials, one of degree $k$.

Let $\mathbf{P}^n$ be the $n$-dimensional projective space over some algebraically closed field $k$ of characteristic $0$. For an integer $t\geq 3$ consider the invertible sheaf $O(t)$ on $\mathbf{P}^n$ (Serre twist of the structure sheaf). Let $N = \binom{t+n}{n}$, the dimension of the space of global sections of $O(t)$, and let $k$ be an integer satisfying $0\leq k\leq N - (2n+2)$. Let $P_1,\dots,P_k$ be general points on $\mathbf{P}^n$ and let $\pi \colon X \to \mathbf{P}^n$ be the blowing-up of $\mathbf{P}^n$ at those points. Let $E_i = \pi^{-1} (P_i)$ with $1\leq i\leq k$ be the exceptional divisor. Then $M = \pi^* \bigl( O(t) \bigr) \otimes O_X (-E_1 - \cdots -E_k)$ is a very ample invertible sheaf on $X$.