More Exercises for Algebraic Topology by Allen Hatcher

Chapter 0.
1. Given a map f : X →Y , show that there exists a map g : Y →X with gf ≃ 11 iff X
is a retract of the mapping cylinder Mf .
2. (a) Suppose a CW complex X is the union of a finite number of subcomplexes Xi and
that a subcomplex A of X is the union of subcomplexes Ai ⊂ Xi . Show that if each
Xi deformation retracts onto Ai and each intersection of a subcollection of the Xi ’s
deformation retracts onto the corresponding intersection of Ai ’s, then X deformation
retracts onto A . [By an induction argument the problem reduces to the case of two
Xi ’s and Ai ’s. In this special case show that the inclusions A ֓ A ∪ (X1 ∩ X2 ) ֓ X
are homotopy equivalences.]
(b) Use mapping cylinders to deduce the more general result that a map of CW com-
plexes f : X →Y is a homotopy equivalence if it restricts to homotopy equivalences
Xi1 ∩ ··· ∩ Xik →Yi1 ∩ ··· ∩ Yik for decompositions of X and Y as finite unions of
subcomplexes Xi ⊂ X and Yi ⊂ Y with f (Xi ) ⊂ Yi . Assume that f is a cellular
map, sending n skeleton to n skeleton for all n . This guarantees that the mapping
cylinder Mf is a CW complex. [The technique of cellular approximation described in
§4.1 can be applied to show that the cellularity hypothesis can be dropped.]
3. Show that the n skeleton of the simplex ∆k has the homotopy type of a wedge
k
sum of n+1 n spheres.
4. For spaces X ⊂ Y ⊂ Z , show that X is a deformation retract of Y if Y is a retract
of Z and Z deformation retracts onto X .
5. Suppose that a space X deformation retracts onto a subspace X0 and we attach X
to a space Y along a subspace A ⊂ X0 via a map f : A→Y to form a space Z = Y ⊔f X .
Show that Z deformation retracts onto Z0 = Y ⊔f X0 .

Section 1.1.
1. If x0 and x1 are two points in the same path component of X , construct a bijection
between the set of homotopy classes of paths from x0 to x1 and π1 (X, x0 ) .
2. For spaces X and Y with basepoints x0 and y0 let hX, Y i denote the set of
basepoint-preserving homotopy classes of basepoint-preserving maps X →Y .
(a) Show that a homotopy equivalence (Y , y0 ) ≃ (Y ′ , y0′ ) induces a bijection hX, Y i ≈
hX, Y ′ i .
(b) Show that a homotopy equivalence (X, x0 ) ≃ (X ′ , x0′ ) induces a bijection hX, Y i ≈
hX ′ , Y i .
(c) When X is a finite connected graph, compute hX, Y i in terms of π1 (Y , y0 ) . [Use
part (b) to reduce to the case that X is a wedge sum of circles.]
3. Show that if two maps f , g : (X, x0 )→(S 1 , s0 ) are homotopic just as maps X →S 1
without regard to basepoints, then they are homotopic through basepoint-preserving
maps via a homotopy ft : (X, x0 )→(S 1 , s0 ) . [Hint: Use rotations of S 1 .]

Section 1.2.
1. Rederive the calculation π1 (RP2 ) ≈ Z2 using the CW structure on RP2 obtained by
identifying antipodal vertices, edges, and faces of a cube.
2. Let K be the graph with six vertices and nine edges shown at the
right, and let X be obtained from K by attaching a 2 cell along each
loop formed by a cycle of four edges in K . Show that π1 (X) = 0 .

3. Let T be the torus S 1 × S 1 and let T ′ be T with a small open disk removed. Let X
be obtained from T by attaching two copies of T ′ , identifying their boundary circles
with longitude and meridian circles S 1 × {x0 } and {x0 }× S 1 in T . Find a presentation
for π1 (X) .

4. For X a finite connected graph, verify that π1 (X × S 1 ) ≈ π1 (X)× π1 (S 1 ) by com-

puting π1 (X × S 1 ) using a CW structure on X × S 1 . In a similar fashion, verify that
π1 (X × Y ) ≈ π1 (X)× π1 (Y ) when X and Y are wedge sums of circles.

5. Using a CW structure, compute the fundamental group of the mapping torus of the
map f : X →X in the following cases:
(a) X is the graph formed by a circle with n equally-spaced radii and f is a rotation
of this wheel graph sending each radius to the next.
(b) X is the graph which is the suspension of n points and f is the suspension of a
cyclic permutation of the n points.

6. One way to modify a presentation g1 , ··· , gm || r1 , ··· , rn to another presenta-

tion for the same group is to replace a relation ri by one of the products ri rj , ri rj−1 ,
rj ri , or rj−1 ri for some j ≠ i . Show that the 2 complexes XG associated to these
different presentations are homotopy equivalent. [Hint: Attach the 2 cell ei2 last and
deform its attaching map so as to change ri to one of the new relations, then apply
Proposition 0.18.]

7. Apply the preceding problem to show that the complex XG for the presentation
a || ap , aq with p, q > 1 is homotopy equivalent to S 2 ∨ Xd where Xd is the com-
plex associated to the presentation a || ad for d the greatest common divisor of p
and q .

8. Describe each of the following spaces as a mapping torus:

(a) S 1 × S 1 with the identifications (1, z) ∼ (1, −z) and (−1, z) ∼ (−1, −z) .
(b) S 1 × S 1 with the identifications (1, z) ∼ (1, iz) and (−1, z) ∼ (−1, −z) .

9. (a) Show that a finite CW complex, or more generally one with a finite 1 skeleton,
has finitely generated fundamental group.
(b) Show that a map f : X →Y with X compact and Y a CW complex cannot induce an
isomorphism on π1 if π1 (X) is not finitely generated. [Use part (a) and Proposition A.1
in the Appendix.]
(c) Deduce that the shrinking wedge of circles in Example 1.25 or an infinite product
of circles is not homotopy equivalent to a CW complex.
10. [This is a revised version of Exercise 16 on page 54.] (a) Show that the noncompact
surface of infinite genus shown below deformation retracts onto a graph, and use this
to show that the fundamental group of the surface is free on a countably infinite
number of generators.

(b) Do the same thing for the noncompact surface R2 − C where C is the Cantor set
in the x axis.
11. Let X be the disk, annulus, or Möbius band, and let ∂X ⊂ X be its boundary circle
or circles.
(a) For x ∈ X show that the inclusion X − {x} ֓ X induces an isomorphism on π1
iff x ∈ ∂X .
(b) If Y is also a disk, annulus, or Möbius band, show that a homeomorphism f : X →Y
restricts to a homeomorphism ∂X →∂Y .
(c) Deduce that the Möbius band is not homeomorphic to an annulus.

Section 1.3.
1. Construct an uncountable number of nonisomorphic connected covering spaces of
S 1 ∨ S 1 . Deduce that a free group on two generators has an uncountable number of
distinct subgroups. Is this also true of a free abelian group on two generators?
2. [An expanded version of number 4 on page 79.] Construct a simply-connected
covering space for each of the following spaces: (a) S 1 ∨ S 2 . (b) The union of S 2 with
an arc joining two distinct points of S 2 . (c) S 2 with two points identified. (d) RP2 ∨RP2 .
(e) S 2 with two arcs joining two pairs of points, or the same pair of points. (f) S 1 ∨RP2 .
(g) RP2 with an arc joining two distinct points. (h) S 1 ∨ T 2 where T 2 is the torus.
3. Describe geometrically the structure of an arbitrary covering space of S 1 ∨ RP2 .
4. If Ng denotes the closed nonorientable surface defined in §1.2, construct an
n sheeted covering space Nmn+2 →Nm+2 for each m ≥ 0 and n ≥ 2 .
5. [An addition to number 18 on page 80.] Determine explicitly all the abelian covering
spaces of S 1 ∨ S 1 . How are these related to covering spaces of S 1 × S 1 ?
6. (a) Show that a map f : X →Y between Hausdorff spaces is a covering space if X
is compact and f is a local homeomorphism, meaning that for each x ∈ X there are
open neighborhoods U of x in X and V of f (x) in Y with f a homeomorphism
from U onto V .
(b) Give an example where this fails if X is noncompact.

7. [A second part to number 6 on page 79.] Show that the composition of two covering
spaces is a covering space if the second one is finite-sheeted.

8. Show that the noncompact surface of infinite genus shown in Exercise 16 for §1.2
is a covering space of the closed orientable surface of genus 2 in two different ways,
one way via an action of Z on the noncompact surface and the other way via an action
of the infinite dihedral group Z2 ∗ Z2 .

9. Using covering spaces, show that a finite index subgroup of a finitely generated
group is finitely generated, and similarly with ‘finitely generated’ replaced by ‘finitely
presented’ (finite number of generators and relations). Is there a bound on the number
of generators of the subgroup in terms of the index and the number of generators of
the full group?

10. A third part of Exercise 21 on page 81: Do the same for the space obtained from
Y by attaching a second Möbius band along the same circle that the first one was
attached along.

11. Another part to Exercise 16 on page 80, showing the necessity of the hypothesis
that Z be locally path-connected in the first part of the exercise: Let Z be the subspace
of R consisting of the sequence xn = 1/n , n = 1, 2, ··· , together with its limit 0 . Let
X ⊂ Z × {0, 1, 2, ···} ⊂ R2 consist of the pairs (0, k) , the pairs (xn , 2j + 1) with n ≥ 1
and j ≥ 0 , and the pairs (xn , 2j) with n > j ≥ 0 . Let Y = Z × {0, 1} ⊂ X . Reducing
the second coordinate modulo 2 gives a map X →Y , and then forgetting the second
coordinate gives a map Y →Z . Show that the composition X →Y →Z is a covering
space, as is the map Y →Z , but the map X →Y is not a covering space.
e →X that is not a covering space but satisfies the
12. Give an example of a map p : X
covering homotopy property, including uniqueness of the lift.

13. (Exercise on non-pathconnected covering spaces) Assume X is locally pathcon-

e →X is a covering space if and only if the restriction
nected. (a) Show that a map p : X
p : p −1 (X0 )→X0 is a covering space for each component X0 of X , and do the same for
normal covering spaces. (b) Now assume X is connected as well as locally pathcon-
e →X is a covering space then so is the restriction p : X
nected. Show that if p : X e0 →X
e0 of X
for each path component X e , and give a counterexample where the converse
fails. Do the same also for normal covering spaces.

14. Let X be one of the five graphs formed by the vertices and edges of a regular
polyhedron: tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, or icosahedron. Deter-
mine the values of n > 1 such that there exists an n sheeted covering space X →Y .
[Hint: A finite graph must have an odd number of odd-valence vertices, where the
valence of a vertex means the number of edges that abut it, using the convention that
if both ends of an edge abut the same vertex, this contributes 2 to the valence.]

15. Let X be a path-connected Hausdorff space. Show that a covering space X e →X

e is compact. Deduce that π1 (X) is finite if X has a compact
must be finite-sheeted if X
simply-connected covering space.

16. [An enhanced version of Exercise 20 on page 81.] Let K be the Klein bottle and T
the torus.
(a) Construct an n sheeted normal covering space K →K for each n > 1 .
(b) Construct an n sheeted nonnormal covering space K →K for each n > 2 . [Note
that 2 sheeted covering spaces are normal since index-two subgroups are normal.]
(c) Show that a covering space T →K must have an even number of sheets.
(d) Construct an n sheeted normal covering space T →K for each even n > 1 .
(e) Construct an n sheeted nonnormal covering space T →K for each even n > 2 .

17. For p prime, find all the index p normal subgroups of Z∗Z and the corresponding
covering spaces of S 1 ∨ S 1 .

18. [An addendum to problem 14 on page 80.] Classify the subgroups of Z2 ∗ Z2 up

to isomorphism, showing there are only four possibilities. How many isomorphism
types of subgroups of Z2 ∗ Z3 and Z3 ∗ Z3 are there?

Section 1.B.
1. Addition to Exercise 5: How does the universal cover change if the relator bab−1 a−2
is replaced by bab−1 a2 ?

Section 2.1.
1. Compute the simplicial homology groups of S 1 with the ∆ complex structure
having n vertices and n edges.

2. Show that the simplicial homology groups of an oriented graph do not depend on
the orientations of the edges.

3. Regarding ∆n as a ∆ complex in the natural way, show that if a subcomplex X ⊂ ∆n

has Hn−1 (X) nonzero then X = ∂∆n .

4. A map f : X →Y induces a function from the set of path-components of X to the

set of path-components of Y . Show that this function determines and is determined
by the induced homomorphism f∗ : H0 (X)→H0 (Y ) .

5. Compute the local homology groups of the mapping cylinders of the maps R→R
given by f (x) = sin x and g(x) = x sin 1/x .

6. Show that the local homology groups of a finite simplicial complex are finitely
generated, and construct a finite CW complex having a local homology group that is
not finitely generated. [See the previous problem.]
7. Show that the obvious quotient map from the augmented chain complex of a space
X to the unaugmented chain complex is a chain map. Thus this map is part of a
short exact sequence of chain complexes, with kernel the complex having only a Z
in dimension −1 , so there is an induced long exact sequence of homology groups
e 0 (X)→H0 (X)→Z→0 . Observe that these
which includes the short exact sequence H
various sequences are all natural.
8. There are exactly three ways to identify the faces of ∆3 in pairs to produce a
∆ complex. Compute the homology groups of this ∆ complex in each case. [This is
related to exercise 7 on page 131.]

9. (a) Show that the set (x1 , ··· , xn ) ∈ Rn || 0 ≤ x1 ≤ ··· ≤ xn ≤ 1 is a simplex of
dimension n .
(b) Show that the n dimensional cube I n has the structure of a simplicial complex
with the same set of 2n vertices as the cube and with n! n simplices.
10. Given a set S , let XS be the simplicial complex whose vertices are the elements
of S and whose simplices are all the finite subsets of S . Show that XS is contractible
if S ≠ ∅ .

Section 2.2.
1. Here is a corrected and extended version of problem 13 on page 156. Let X be the
2 complex obtained from S 1 with its usual cell structure by attaching two 2 cells by
maps of degrees 2 and 3 , respectively.
(a) Compute the homology groups of all the subcomplexes A ⊂ X and the corre-
sponding quotient complexes X/A .
(b) Show that the only subcomplex A ⊂ X such that the quotient map X →X/A is a
homotopy equivalence is the trivial subcomplex consisting of the 0 cell alone.
(c) Show that X ≃ S 2 . [Hint: Use Proposition 0.18 and consider the possibility of
attaching one 2 cell after the other and then deforming its attaching map.]
(d) Let Y be obtained from X by attaching a 3 cell by a map S 2 →X that is the
composition of a degree 2 map of S 2 with a homotopy equivalence S 2 →X . Show
that if B is a nontrivial subcomplex of Y then Y and Y /B are not homotopy
equivalent.
2. Show that if X is a CW complex with k n cells then Hn (X) ≈ Zk iff the cellular
boundary maps dn and dn+1 are both zero.
3. Use Euler characteristic to determine which orientable surface results from identi-
fying opposite edges of a 2n gon.
4. Suppose a simplicial complex structure on a closed surface of Euler characteristic
χ has v vertices, e edges, and f faces, which are triangles. Show that e = 3f /2 ,
f = 2(v − χ ) , e = 3(v − χ ) , and e ≤ v(v − 1)/2 . Deduce that 6(v − χ ) ≤ v 2 − v .
For the torus conclude that v ≥ 7 , f ≥ 14 , and e ≥ 21 .
Explain how the diagram at the right gives a simplicial
complex structure on the torus realizing the minimum
values (v, e, f ) = (7, 21, 14) . For the projective plane
show that v ≥ 6 , f ≥ 10 , and e ≥ 15 , and use the icosa-
hedron to describe a simplicial complex structure real-
izing the minimum values (v, e, f ) = (6, 15, 10) . Why
does the octahedron not work?
5. The degree of a homeomorphism f : Rn →Rn can be defined as the degree of
the extension of f to a homeomorphism of the one-point compactification S n . Using
this notion, fill in the details of the following argument due to R. Fokkink which shows
that Rn is not homeomorphic to a product X × X if n is odd. Assuming Rn = X × X ,
consider the homeomorphism f of Rn × Rn = X × X × X × X that cyclically permutes
the factors, f (x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 ) = (x2 , x3 , x4 , x1 ) . Then f 2 switches the two factors of
Rn × Rn , so f 2 has degree −1 if n is odd. But deg(f 2 ) = (deg f )2 = +1 .
e n (X ∗ Y ) ≈
6. Show that the homology groups of a join X ∗ Y are given by H
Hn−1 (X × Y , X ∨ Y ) .
7. For a simplicial complex X construct a ∆ complex ∆(X) having an n simplex for
each linear map of ∆n to a simplex of X that takes vertices to vertices but not neces-
sarily injectively. The faces of such a simplex of ∆(X) are obtained by restricting the
map to faces of ∆n . Show that the natural map ∆(X)→X induces an isomorphism
on all homology groups. Thus the homology of X can be computed using the sim-
plicial chain complex of ∆(X) , which lies between the simplicial and singular chain
complexes of X . [First do the case that X is a simplex, then use a Mayer-Vietoris
argument to do the case that X is a finite complex by induction on the number of
simplices, then deduce the general case.]
8. Suppose the definition of ∆(X) in the preceding exercise was modified to allow
only injective linear maps ∆n →X . Show that in the cases X = ∆1 and X = ∆2 it is
no longer true with the more restrictive definition that X and ∆(X) have isomorphic
homology groups.
9. Let S n be given the CW structure lifting the standard CW structure on RPn , so that
S n has two i cells for each i ≤ n . Compute the resulting cellular chain complex for
S n and verify that it has the correct homology groups. [Use orientations for the cells
that lift orientations of the cells of RPn .]
10. Compute the homology groups of the quotient space of S n obtained by identifying
antipodal points in the standard S k ⊂ S n , for a fixed k < n .
11. Compute the reduced Mayer-Vietoris sequence for the CW complex X = A ∪ B
where A ∩ B is RP2 and we obtain A from A ∩ B by attaching a cone on RP1 ⊂ RP2
and we obtain B by attaching a cone on all of RP2 . Thus A ≃ S 2 , B is contractible,
and X ≃ S 2 . [The Mayer-Vietoris sequence reduces to a short exact sequence that
does not split. This gives a counterexample to the original formulation of the Mayer-
Vietoris sequence by Mayer and Vietoris, which was not in terms of exact sequences
since these had not yet been invented, but rather as a direct sum statement. The error
is repeated more recently in [Dieudonné 1989], page 39.]
12. (a) Compute the homology groups of the quotient space of the unit sphere S 2 ⊂ R3
obtained by identifying (x, y, z) ∼ (y, z, x) ∼ (z, x, y) whenever at least one of
x, y, z is 0 . [To get a cell structure, replace S 2 by a regular octahedron centered at
the origin with vertices on the coordinate axes.]
(b) Determine whether this space is homotopy equivalent to the wedge sum of Moore
spaces giving the same homology.
13. Show that if (X, A) is a CW pair of dimension n (so all cells of X − A have
dimension at most n ) then the map Hn (A)→Hn (X) induced by the inclusion A ֓ X
is injective with image a direct summand of Hn (X) .
14. Does the singular chain defined by the quotient map ∆n →∆n /∂∆n = S n represent
a generator of Hn (S n ) for n > 0 ? If not, what can be added to get a generator?
15. Show that if f : ∆n →∆n is a map that takes each (n − 1) dimensional face of ∆n
to itself, then f is surjective. [Consider the induced map ∆n /∂∆n →∆n /∂∆n .]
16. Show that the spaces S 1 × S 2 and S 1 ∨S 2 ∨S 3 have isomorphic homology and fun-
damental groups but are not homotopy equivalent. [Compute the homology groups
of their universal covers.]
17. Give a proof or a counterexample to the following statement, for each n > 0 : If X
is an n dimensional CW complex having exactly one cell in each dimension 0, 1, ··· , n
and Hi (X) ≈ Z for 0 ≤ i ≤ n , then X ≃ S 1 ∨ S 2 ∨ ··· ∨ S n .
18. Show that the Mayer-Vietoris sequence fails to hold for the decomposition of
the shrinking wedge of circles in Example 1.25 as the union of its upper and lower
halves. (By a modification of the argument there show that H1 of the shrinking wedge
is uncountable, but the Mayer-Vietoris sequence would imply it is countable.)

Section 2.B.
1. Generalizing Corollary 2B.4, show that if a map from a compact manifold to a con-
nected manifold of the same dimension is locally an embedding, then it is a covering
space.
2. Using Proposition 2B.1, show that a subspace X ⊂ S n homeomorphic to S n−1 is
the frontier of each of the two components of S n − X . [Observe that each point x ∈ X
has arbitrarily small open neighborhoods N in X such that S n −(X −N) is connected,
then consider a path in S n − (X − N) connecting a point in one component of S n − X
to a point in the other component.]

Section 3.1.
1. Write down an explicit cocycle in C 1 (S 1 ; Z) representing a generator of H 1 (S 1 ; Z) .

Section 3.2.
1. Compute the ring H ∗ (X; Z) when X is obtained from CPn−1 by attaching a cell e2n
f g
by the composition S 2n−1 --→ S 2n−1 --→ CPn−1 where f has degree k > 1 and g is
n
the attaching map for the 2n cell of CP .
2. Compute the ring H ∗ (X; Z) when X is obtained from CPn−1 ∨ S 2n−1 by attaching a
f ∨g
cell e2n by the composition S 2n−1 →S 2n−1 ∨ S 2n−1 - S 2n−1 ∨ CPn−1 where the first
-----→
map collapses the equator S 2n−2 ⊂ S 2n−1 to a point, the map f has degree k > 1 ,
and g is the attaching map for the 2n cell of CPn .
3. Generalizing Example 3.7, compute the ring H ∗ (X; Z) where X is obtained from
a wedge sum of finitely many circles by attaching a 2 cell according to an arbitrary
product of commutators of the 1 cells. More generally, do this for any attaching map
for which H 2 (X; Z) ≈ Z .
4. Show that if there exists a map f : S n × S n →S n that is an odd function of each
variable separately, so f (−x, y) = −f (x, y) = f (x, −y) , then n = 2k − 1 for some
integer k . [See Theorem 3.20.]
5. For a space X let c(X) denote the minimum number of sets in a covering of X by
contractible open sets, if such a cover exists. Using Exercise 2 on page 228 show:
(a) c(RPn ) = c(CPn ) = n + 1 .
(b) c(M) = 3 for closed surfaces M other than S 2 .
(c) c(T n ) = n + 1 for T n the n dimensional torus.


6. From the calculation H ∗ (RP∞ )n ; Z2 ≈ Z2 [x1 , ··· , xn ] deduce that all cellular
boundary and coboundary maps with Z2 coefficients are zero for the product (RP∞ )n
with its standard CW structure.
7. Taking the product of the inclusion RP1 ֓RP∞ with itself n times gives a map from
the n torus T n to (RP∞ )n . Compute the induced maps on H ∗ (−; Z2 ) and H∗ (−; Z2 ) .
8. By Proposition 1B.9 there is a map µ : RP∞ × RP∞ →RP∞ whose induced map on π1
is the multiplication map in this group. Compute the maps induced by µ on H ∗ (−; Z2 )
and H∗ (−; Z2 ) , showing
 that
 the latter map takes the cellular homology class of the
i+j
product cell ei × ej to i ei+j where the binomial coefficient is taken mod 2 . [This
can be interpreted as saying that H∗ (RP∞ ; Z2 ) is a divided polynomial algebra using
the multiplication induced by µ . See §3.C for more on this idea.]
9. Deduce the cup product structure for a product of spheres from the special case
of the n torus T n using the fact that S i is T i with its (i − 1) skeleton collapsed to
a point, where T i is given its standard CW structure.
Section 3.3.
1. Show that the degree of a map f : T n →T n of the n dimensional torus is the
determinant of f ∗ : H 1 (T n ; Z)→H 1 (T n ; Z) .
2. For a connected nonorientable manifold show that a two-sheeted covering space
that is orientable is unique up to isomorphism.
f→M be the two-sheeted orientable cover of the nonorientable closed
3. Let p : M
f F ) ≈ Hk (M; F ) ⊕ Hn−k (M; F ) for F = Q or Zp with
n manifold M . Show that Hk (M;
p an odd prime, by filling in details in the following outline:
(a) For a vector space V over F let T : V →V be a linear map with T 2 = 11, and

let V ± = v ∈ V || T (v) = ±v . Show that V = V + ⊕ V − using the formula
v = 1/2 [v + T (v)] + 1/2 [v − T (v)].
f; F ) = Hk+ (M
(b) In particular, there are splittings Hk (M f; F ) ⊕ Hk− (M
f; F ) induced by the
nontrivial deck transformation τ : M f→M f , and similarly for cohomology, with the
latter splitting being the Hom-dual of the former.
f; F ) and likewise for cohomology, by associating to
(c) Identify Hk (M; F ) with Hk+ (M
each singular simplex in M the sum of its two lifts to M f.
(d) Show that the Poincaré duality isomorphism α ֏ [Mf] a α identifies the + and
− parts of H k (M;
f F ) with the − and + parts of Hn−k (M;
f F ) , respectively, using
f] = −[M
the fact that τ∗ [M f] .

4. Using Poincaré duality and the naturality property of cap products, show that
a map f : M →N of degree 1 between closed orientable n manifolds induces split
surjections f∗ : Hi (M; R)→Hi (N; R) for all i .
5. Let M be a closed 3 manifold embedded in S 4 so that it has a neighborhood
homeomorphic to M × (−ε, ε) , with M corresponding to M × {0} under this homeo-
morphism. Show that the torsion subgroup of H1 (M) splits as a direct sum T ⊕ T for
some finite abelian group T .

6. Show that the space X = R2 − (x, 0) || x ≠ 0 is not a manifold, nor is the product
X × Rk for any k .

Section 3.B.
1. Show that S n is not homeomorphic to a product X × Y unless X or Y is a point.
[Hint: If S n = X × Y then X and Y embed in S n as retracts.]

Section 3.C.
1. Apply Proposition 1B.9 to show that if G is an abelian group then a CW complex
K(G, 1) is a homotopy-associative, homotopy-commutative H–space.
2. An additional part (d) for the existing problem 10: In case H ∗ (X; R) is an exterior
algebra ΛR [α1 , ··· , αr ] on r odd-dimensional generators αi show that the k th power
map x ֏ x k induces multiplication by kr on the top-dimensional cohomology group
H n (X; R) for n = |α1 | + ··· + |αr | .
Section 4.1.
1. For X path-connected show that πn (X) = 0 iff every pair of maps f0 , f1 : D n →X
with f0 || ∂D n = f1 || ∂D n is joined by a homotopy ft : D n →X with ft || ∂D n = f0 || ∂D n
for all t .

2. Let X ⊂ R consist of the sequence 1/2 , 1/3 , 1/4 , ··· together with its limit 0 . Show
that the suspension SX has πn (SX) = 0 for all n > 1 .

3. Let f : S n × S n →S 2n be the quotient map collapsing S n ∨ S n to a point. Show that

f induces the zero map on all homotopy groups but f is not nullhomotopic.

4. Let (X, A) be an n connected CW pair with A of dimension less than n . Show that
if (X ′ , A′ ) is another such pair with X ≃ X ′ then A ≃ A′ . Give an example where this
fails when A has dimension n .

5. Show that for a pair (X, A) , the image of the map π2 (X, x0 )→π2 (X, A, x0 ) lies in
the center of π2 (X, A, x0 ) . (This was Exercise 27 in Section 4.2, but it really belongs
in Section 4.1 since it can be proved directly from the definitions.)

6. For a path-connected space X with suspension SX show that there are isomor-
phisms πn (SX, X) ≈ πn (SX)× πn−1 (X) for all n ≥ 2 . [The case n = 2 needs special
attention since it can involve nonabelian groups.]

7. As a second part to exercise 13 on page 359, use the Brouwer fixed point theorem
to show that every map from a contractible finite simplicial complex to itself has a
fixed point.

8. For path-connected X and Y , use the long exact sequence of homotopy groups for
the pair (X × Y , X ∨ Y ) to show that πn (X ∨ Y ) ≈ πn (X)× πn (Y )× πn+1 (X × Y , X ∨ Y )
for all n ≥ 2 .

9. The following exercise can be a preliminary step for exercise 20 on page 359. The
sphere S n−1 ⊂ S n is the common boundary of three disks: The upper hemisphere
n
D+ of S n , the lower hemisphere D−
n
, and the disk D n halfway between these two
hemispheres. Given a map F : S n ∪D n →Y taking a basepoint s0 in S n−1 to a basepoint
y0 in Y , let f be the restriction of F to S n and let f+ and f− be the restrictions of
n
F to the spheres D+ ∪ D n and D n ∪ D−
n
. Show that [f ] = [f+ ] + [f− ] in πn (Y , y0 ) .

Section 4.2.
i r
1. A space Y is a homotopy retract of a space X if there are maps Y --→ X --→ Y
whose composition is homotopic to the identity. Show that if a simply-connected
W
CW complex Y is a homotopy retract of a wedge of spheres i S ni , for example if
W ni
iS ≃ Y ∨ Z for some Z , then Y is also homotopy equivalent to a wedge of spheres.
[Hint: If the Hurewicz map πn →Hn is surjective for a space X then it is also surjective
for any homotopy retract of X . Use this to construct a map from a wedge of spheres
to Y inducing an isomorphism on homology.]
2. Show that if X is m connected and Y is n connected then the join X ∗ Y is
(m + n + 2) connected. This also holds when m or n is −1 if (−1) connected is
taken to mean nonempty. [Simple-connectivity is an exercise for §1.2. For higher
e i (X ∗ Y ) is isomorphic to
connectivity use the Hurewicz theorem and the fact that H
Hi−1 (X × Y , X ∨ Y ) , an exercise for §2.2.]

3. Give examples of maps between simply-connected CW complexes that induce a

surjection on π∗ but not on H∗ , and vice versa, and do the same for injections. Four
examples are needed in total. The spaces can be chosen to be spheres and complex
projective spaces.
p
4. Let F →
- E --→ B be a fiber bundle with base B a finite CW complex. Show that if
H∗ (F ; Z) is finitely generated then so is H∗ (E; Z) and χ (E) = χ (F ) χ (B) . [Proceed by
induction on the number of cells in B . Write B = C ∪ D n where D n is a disk in a top-
dimensional cell en of B such that the bundle is a product over D n and C ∩D n = ∂D n .
Show the inclusion p −1 (B − en ) ֓ p −1 (C) is a weak homotopy equivalence, and use
the Mayer-Vietoris sequence for the decomposition E = p −1 (C) ∪ p −1 (D n ) .]

5. Let Cf = S n ∪ ek where the cell ek is attached by f : S k−1 →S n , and let Cg be

constructed similarly using g : S k−1 →S n . Show that if Cf ≃ Cg then g is homotopic
to the composition of f with homotopy equivalences of S k−1 and S n . In particular,
if Cf ≃ S n ∨ S k then f is nullhomotopic.

6. Let f : (X, A)→(Y , B) be a map of CW pairs such that both the restriction f : A→B
and the induced quotient map X/A→Y /B are homotopy equivalences. Show that
f : X →Y is a homotopy equivalence if X and Y are simply-connected. Show also,
by means of an example of a map (S 1 ∨ S n , S 1 )→(S 1 ∨ S n , S 1 ) with n > 1 , that the
simple-connectivity assumption cannot be dropped.

7. Show that if a map f : X →Y of CW complexes induces isomorphisms on homol-

ogy f∗ : Hn (X)→Hn (Y ) for all n , then the suspension Sf : SX →SY is a homotopy
equivalence, even when X and Y are not connected.

8. Show that if G is a finite group having a finite presentation with the same number
of generators as relations, then H2 (G) = 0 , where Hi (G) means Hi (K(G, 1)) for any
K(G, 1) CW complex.

9. Show that for X path-connected the suspension map π1 (X)→π2 (SX) is abelian-
ization.

10. For the space X in Example 4.35 compute the homology groups of the universal
e with coefficients in Z , Q , and Zp with p prime.
cover X

Section 4.3.
1. Show that associating to a map CPn →CPn the induced homomorphism on H2
gives a bijection [CPn , CPn ] ≈ Z .
2. A short exact sequence of groups 1→A ֓ B →C →1 corresponds to a fibration
K(A, 1)→K(B, 1)→K(C, 1) . Show this fibration is principal if and only if A lies in
the center of B .
3. Construct a pair (X, Y ) such that π1 (Y ) is abelian but π2 (X, Y ) is nonabelian, by
applying the preceding problem in a case where A is in the center of the nonabelian
group B with abelian quotient C (for example, B is the quaternion group of order 8
and A is its center), using the general fact that πn+1 (X, Y ) is πn of the homotopy
fiber of the inclusion Y ֓X.
4. (a) Let p : E →B be a fibration and let r : E →E0 be a retraction onto a subspace
E0 ⊂ E such that pr = p (so r preserves fibers of p ). Show that the restriction
p : E0 →B is also a fibration.
(b) Use part (a) to give simple examples of fibrations which are not fiber bundles, with
E a product B × F and, say, B = F = I . [This gives a simpler solution to Exercise 9 on
page 419 not using the hint given there.]

Section 4.D.
i p
1. Prove the following refinement of the Leray-Hirsch theorem: Let F --→ E --→ B be
a fiber bundle such that, for some commutative coefficient ring R and some fixed
integer m > 0 the R modules H j (F ; R) for j ≤ m are free with a finite basis
consisting of the restrictions i∗ (cjk ) of elements cjk ∈ H j (E; R) . Then the map
L
P P
Φ : j H ℓ−j (B; R) ⊗R H j (F ; R) →H ℓ (E; R) , ∗
ijk bi ⊗ i (cjk ) ֏
∗
ijk p (bi ) ` cjk , is
an isomorphism for ℓ ≤ m .

Section 4.K.
1. Show that a map p : E →B is a quasifibration if it satisfies a weaker form of the
homotopy lifting property which allows a homotopy D k × I →B to be reparametrized
by composition with a map D k × I →D k × I of the form (x, t) ֏ (x, gx (t)) for some
family of maps gx : (I, 0, 1)→(I, 0, 1) before lifting the homotopy.

Section 4.L.
1. Using the argument in Proposition 4L.11 together with the Adem relations Sq1 Sq4 +
Sq2 Sq3 +Sq4 Sq1 = 0 , Sq1 Sq8 +Sq2 Sq7 +Sq8 Sq1 = 0 , and Sq2 Sq8 +Sq4 Sq6 +Sq8 Sq2 +
Sq9 Sq1 = 0 , show that 2ν , 2σ , and σ η are nonzero in π∗s . Explain why the argument
fails for the products νη and σ ν , where the Adem relations in question are Sq2 Sq4 +
Sq5 Sq1 +Sq6 = 0 and Sq4 Sq8 +Sq10 Sq2 +Sq11 Sq1 +Sq12 = 0 . However the argument
does work unstably for the compositions νη : S 8 →S 7 →S 4 and σ ν : S 18 →S 15 →S 8 ,
together with a few suspensions of these compositions. [In fact νη and σ ν are both
zero in π∗s .]

Appendix
1. A CW complex is said to be countable if it has countably many cells, and it is locally
finite if every point has a neighborhood that is contained in a finite subcomplex. The
latter condition is equivalent to being locally compact.
(a) Show that every countable CW complex can be expressed as the union of an in-
creasing sequence of finite subcomplexes X1 ⊂ X2 ⊂ ··· .
(b) Show that every countable CW complex is homotopy equivalent to a locally finite
CW complex. [Consider the mapping telescope of the inclusions in (a); see the proof of
Lemma 2.34.] Refine the construction to show that when the given complex is finite-
dimensional, the locally finite complex can be taken to be of the same dimension.
(c) Show that a locally finite CW complex that is connected must be countable.