# Math4202 Topology II (Lecture 6) ## Algebraic Topology Classify 2-dimensional topological manifolds (connected) up to homeomorphism/homotopy equivalence. Use fundamental groups. We want to show that: 1. The fundamental group is invariant under the equivalence relation. 2. develop some methods to compute the groups. 3. 2-dimensional topological spaces with the same fundamental group are equivalent (homeomorphism). ### Homotopy of paths #### Definition of path If $f$ and $f'$ are two continuous maps from $X$ to $Y$, where $X$ and $Y$ are topological spaces. Then we say that $f$ is homotopic to $f'$ if there exists a continuous map $F:X\times [0,1]\to Y$ such that $F(x,0)=f(x)$ and $F(x,1)=f'(x)$ for all $x\in X$. The map $F$ is called a homotopy between $f$ and $f'$. We use $f\simeq f'$ to mean that $f$ is homotopic to $f'$. #### Definition of homotopic equivalence map Let $f:X\to Y$ and $g:Y\to X$ be two continuous maps. If $f\circ g:Y\to Y$ and $g\circ f:X\to X$ are homotopic to the identity maps $\operatorname{id}_Y$ and $\operatorname{id}_X$, then $f$ and $g$ are homotopic equivalence maps. And the two spaces $X$ and $Y$ are homotopy equivalent. > [!NOTE] > > This condition is weaker than homeomorphism. (In homeomorphism, let $g=f^{-1}$, we require $g\circ f=\operatorname{id}_X$ and $f\circ g=\operatorname{id}_Y$.)
Example of homotopy equivalence maps Let $X=\{a\}$ and $Y=[0,1]$ with standard topology. Consider $f:X\to Y$ by $f(a)=0$ and $g:Y\to X$ by $g(y)=a$, where $y\in [0,1]$. $g\circ f=\operatorname{id}_X$ and $f\circ g=[0,1]\mapsto 0$. $g\circ f\simeq \operatorname{id}_X$ and $f\circ g\simeq \operatorname{id}_Y$. Consider $F:X\times [0,1]\to Y$ by $F(a,0)=0$ and $F(a,t)=(1-t)y$. $F$ is continuous and homotopy between $f\circ g$ and $\operatorname{id}_Y$. This gives example of homotopy but not homeomorphism.
#### Definition of null homology If $f:X\to Y$ is homotopy to a constant map. $f$ is called null homotopy. #### Definition of path homotopy Let $f,f':I\to X$ be a continuous maps from an interval $I=[0,1]$ to a topological space $X$. Two pathes $f$ and $f'$ are path homotopic if - there exists a continuous map $F:I\times [0,1]\to X$ such that $F(i,0)=f(i)$ and $F(i,1)=f'(i)$ for all $i\in I$. - $f(0)=f'(0)$ and $f(1)=f'(1)$.