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Algebraic Topology

Fundamental groups, homology: counting holes with algebra.

Lessons

Advanced The fundamental group Loops up to deformation; the circle's winding number; van Kampen. polar form of -1 Advanced Homology and the Euler characteristic Counting holes in every dimension with chain complexes. 6 - 12 + 8

Attach a group to a space so that continuous maps become homomorphisms. Then the question "are these two spaces the same shape?" becomes an algebra computation, which is how we know a doughnut is not a sphere.

More lessons

Homotopy

Algebraic topology Homotopy Covering space Seifert–Van Kampen theorem Homotopy group Simply connected space Deformation retract

Homology

Homology (mathematics)Simplicial complex Singular homology Chain complex Exact sequence Betti number Euler characteristic CW complex Mayer–Vietoris sequence Cohomology Poincaré duality

Consequences

Brouwer fixed-point theorem Borsuk–Ulam theorem Hairy ball theorem Jordan curve theorem Poincaré conjecture Classification of manifolds

Some of these lessons are adapted from open texts: Wikipedia. Each lesson page names its source and licence.

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Questions people ask

What does the fundamental group measure?

Loops in a space up to deformation. In a plane every loop shrinks to a point (trivial group); around a hole a loop can wind n times (the integers).

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