Midterm 601 Solutions

Math 601 Spring 2015
Midterm Solutions
(1) Show that X is simply connected iff for any 2 points p, q ∈ X, any two paths from
p to q are homotopic to each other.
Solution: ⇒ Let α, β be 2 paths from p to q. Then α ⋆ β̄ ≃ 1p and hence

α ≃ α ⋆ (β̄ ⋆ β) ≃ (α ⋆ β̄) ⋆ β ≃ 1p ⋆ β ≃ β.
⇐ If α ∈ π1 (X, p), then α ≃ 1p since they have the same endpoints.
(2) Compute the fundamental group and homology groups of Rn with a line taken out.
You can assume n ≥ 3, but you need to present a complete proof of your claim.
Solution: We can assume the line is xn = 0. Then Rn − L deformation retracts

to Rn−1 − {0} via the homotopy F (x, t) = (x1 , · · · , xn−1 , txn ), which deformation
retracts to Sn−2 via the homotopy G(x, t) = tx + (1 − t)x/||x||. Thus π1 = Z if
n = 3 and 0 other wise. Similarly, Hk = Z for k = 0, n − 2 and 0 otherwise.
(3) Sow that every continuous map f : S2 → S1 is homotopic to a constant map.
Solution: Since π1 (S2 ) = 0, there exists a lift f˜: S2 → R under the cover
p : R → S1 , i.e. p ◦ f˜ = f . Since R is contractible, there is a null homotopy
F : S2 × I → R, and then p ◦ F is a null homotopy of f .
(4) Let pi : Yi → Xi , i=1,2 be covering spaces with Yi simply connected. Show that if
X1 and X2 are homotopy equivalent, then so are Y1 and Y2 .
Solution: Let f : X1 → X2 and g : X2 → X1 be such that f ◦ g ≃ Id and

g ◦ f ≃ Id. Since π1 (Yi ) = 0, there exists a lift f˜ of the composition f ◦ p1 under
the cover p2 and a lift of g̃ of the composition g ◦ p2 under the cover p1 . Then g̃ ◦ f˜
is a lift of g ◦ f ◦ p1 under the cover p1 . The homotopy lifting property then implies
that g̃ ◦ f˜ ≃ Id, and similarly f˜ ◦ g̃ ≃ Id.
(5) Let X be the ∆ complex obtained by starting with two simplices [v0 , v1 , v2 ] and
[w0 , w1 , w2 ] and identifying corresponding vertices, i.e. vi ∼ wi . Compute its
homology.
Solution: We have the chain complex 0 → C2 ≃ Z2 → C1 ≃ Z6 → C0 ≃ Z3 . Let

α = [v0 , v1 , v2 ], β = [w0 , w1 , w2 ] be a basis of C2 , and a = [v1 , v2 ], b = [v0 , v2 ], c =
[v0 , v1 ], ā = [w1 , w2 ], b̄ = [w0 , w2 ], c̄ = [w0 , w1 ] a basis of C1 , and v0 = w0 , v1 =
w1 , v2 = w2 a basis of C0 . Since ∂2 (α) = a − b + c and ∂2 (β) = ā − b̄ + c̄, the
boundary map ∂2 is clearly injective, and hence H2 (X) = 0.
∂1 (a) = v2 − v1 = δ1 (ā) and similarly for b, c. Thus v0 , v1 , v2 are homologous, and
H0 (X) = Z. The kernel ker ∂1 has a Z basis {a − ā, b − b̄, a − b + c, ā − b̄ + c̄} and
hence H2 (X) = Z ⊕ Z with basis [a − ā], [b − b̄].
1
2
(6) Take the torus S1 × S1 and identify points in the circle S1 × {x0 } that differ by
a 2π/m rotation and identify points in the circle {x0 } × S1 that differ by a 2π/n
rotation. Make it into a CW complex and compute its homology.
Solution: The CW complex has one 2-cell e2 and two 1-cells e11 = {(x0 , eit ) |
0 ≤ t ≤ 2π/n} and e12 = {(eit , x0 ) | 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π/m} and one 0-cell. We have
boundary maps ∂(e2 ) = ne11 + me12 − ne11 − me12 = 0 and ∂(e11 ) = ∂(e12 ) = 0 and
hence H0 (X) = H2 (X) = Z and H1 (X) = Z ⊕ Z.
(7) Let A be a 3x3 matrix with real positive entries. Show that A has a real positive
eigenvalue.
Hint: You may want to consider the set
∑
A := {v = (x1 , x2 , x3 ) ∈ R3 | x2i = 1, xi ≥ 0}.
Solution: Let f : A → A bedefined by f (v) = Av/||Av|| which is well defined

since A has positive entries. By the Brower fixed point theorem, there exists a
v ∈ A with f (v) = v and hence Av = ||Av||v.
(8) (Extra credit if you have time left) Consider a 3 simplex [v0 , v1 , v2 , v3 ] with opposite
edges identified (orientation preserving). What is the homology of this space.
Solution: C3 is spanned by α = [v0 , v1 , v2 , v3 ] and C2 by
a = [v1 , v2 , v3 ], b = [v0 , v2 , v3 ], c = [v0 , v1 , v3 ], d = [v0 , v1 , v2 ]
and C1 by
u = [v0 , v1 ] = [v2 , v3 ], v = [v0 , v2 ] = [v1 , v3 ], w = [v0 , v3 ] = [v1 , v2 ].
All vertices are identified to one point [v0 ] and hence H0 (X) = Z. We have ∂3 (α) =
a − b + c − d and
∂2 (a) = u − v + w = ∂2 (d), ∂2 (b) = u + v − w = ∂2 (c), ∂1 = 0.
Thus H3 (X) = 0 and
H2 (X) = ker(∂2 )/ Im(∂3 ) =< a − d, b − c > /(a − d = b − c) ≃ Z.
Finally,
H1 (X) = ker(∂1 )/ Im(∂2 ) =< u, v, w > /(u − v + w = 0, u + v − w = 0v)
=< u, v − w, w > /(2u = 0, 2(v − w) = 0) = Z ⊕ Z2 ⊕ Z2 .
Correction (thanks to Zhen Zeng! Excercise: Find my mistake.....)
H1 (X) = ker(∂1 )/ Im(∂2 ) =< u, v, w > /(u − v + w = 0, u + v − w = 0v)

=< u, u − v + w, w > /(2u = 0, u − v + w = 0) = Z2 ⊕ Z.

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Math 601 Spring 2015

Solution: ⇒ Let α, β be 2 paths from p to q. Then α ⋆ β̄ ≃ 1p and hence

Solution: We can assume the line is xn = 0. Then Rn − L deformation retracts

(3) Sow that every continuous map f : S2 → S1 is homotopic to a constant map.

Solution: Let f : X1 → X2 and g : X2 → X1 be such that f ◦ g ≃ Id and

Solution: We have the chain complex 0 → C2 ≃ Z2 → C1 ≃ Z6 → C0 ≃ Z3 . Let

Solution: Let f : A → A bedeﬁned by f (v) = Av/||Av|| which is well deﬁned

Correction (thanks to Zhen Zeng! Excercise: Find my mistake.....)

H1 (X) = ker(∂1 )/ Im(∂2 ) =< u, v, w > /(u − v + w = 0, u + v − w = 0v)

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