Math 148 Problem Set 1 Imran Thobani

February 15, 2013

3) c. If f is continuous, then for each F T, whenever V Y is closed, f
1
(V ) is closed,
so by Theorem 17.2 of Munkres, F f
1
(V ) = f[
1
F
(V ) is closed in F, so f[
F
is continuous
for each F T. If f[
F
is continuous for each F T, then whenever V Y is closed, for
each F T, f[
1
F
(V ) = F f
1
(V ) is closed in F. Then F (F f
1
(V )) is open in F,
which implies F (F f
1
(V )) = F O for some open O, so taking the complement in F
on both sides, gives that F f
1
(V ) = F O

where O

is closed in X, and since F is also

closed in X, F f
1
(V ) is closed in X. Then
FF
(F f
1
((V )) = f
1
(V ) is closed in X
(here we use the fact that T is nite to ensure the union is closed), so f is continuous.
d. (X [0, 1])

= X [0, 1]

, which is an element of the basis of the product topology, since

X is open in X and [0, 1]

is open in [0, 2], thus X [0, 1] is closed, and similarly, X [1, 2]

is closed. It follows from part c. that H is continuous.
5) Take non-empty open U R
n
, then U can be written as a union of open intervals in R
n
(this is because the set of open intervals in R
n
forms a basis for the topology on R
n
). Take
any one of these intervals (c
1
, d
1
) ... (c
n
, d
n
); for each i, 1 i n, there exists q
i
Q
such that c
i
< q
i
< d
i
, so (q
1
, ..., q
n
) Q
n
U. This proves that Q
n
is dense in R
n
.
6) c. We know that x and y are continuous functions, and since the sum of continuous
functions and product of continuous functions is continuous, it follows that a polynomial
function is continuous. Also,

x is a continuous function, and the composition of continuous
functions is continuous, so the square root of a polynomial is continuous. From these facts,
it follows that f
i
is continuous for i = 1, 2, 3. Then it follows by the universal property of
the product topology that f(x, y) = (f
1
, f
2
, f
3
) is a continuous function.
Suppose (x, y) S
1
. Then x
2
+y
2
= 1 so f(x, y) = (2x
2
+2y
2
1, 2x

1 x
2
y
2
, 2y

1 x
2
y
2
) =
(1, 0, 0). So f(S
1
) = (1, 0, 0), i.e. if we let be the equivalence relation corresponding
to D
2
/S
1
, then for a, b D
2
, a b = a = b a, b S
1
= f(a) = f(b). Then
by the universal property for the quotient topology, there exists a unique continuous map
g : D
2
/S
1
S
2
such that f = g q where q is the quotient map from D
2
D
2
/S
1
. We
have g([S
1
]) = g(q(S
1
)) = f(S
1
) = (1, 0, 0), i.e. g([S
1
]) = (1, 0, 0).
Take any (x, y, z) S
2
. Since f is surjective, there exists (a, b) D
2
such that g(q(a, b)) =
f(a, b) = (x, y, z), which shows that g is surjective. Suppose that g(x) = g(y). If x = [S
1
],
then g(y) = g([S
1
]) = (1, 0, 0) so y = [S
1
] (otherwise, we would have y ,= [S
1
] and g(y) =
g(q(q
1
(y))) = f(q
1
(y)) = f(y) where y = (y
1
, y
2
), y
2
1
+y
2
2
< 1 so f
1
(y) < 2y
2
1
+2y
2
2
1 < 1
so g(y) = f(y) ,= (1, 0, 0), a contradiction). So y = x.
By the same reasoning y = [S
1
] = x = [S
1
], so if, on the other hand, x ,= [S
1
], we
must have y ,= [S
1
], in which case we can write y = (y
1
, y
2
), x = (x
1
, x
2
) where x
2
1
+ x
2
2
<
1, y
2
1
+y
2
2
< 1. We have g(x) = g(q(q
1
(x))) = f(q
1
(x)) = f(x) and by a similar reasoning,
f(y) = g(y) = g(x), so f(y) = f(x). Then we have:
1
f
1
(x) = f
1
(y)
= 2x
2
1
+ 2x
2
2
1 = 2y
2
1
+ 2y
2
2
1
= x
2
1
+ x
2
2
= y
2
1
+ y
2
2
< 1
And we also have:
f
2
(x) = f
2
(y)
= 2x
1

1 x
2
1
x
2
2
= 2y
1

1 y
2
1
y
2
2
= 2y
1

1 x
2
1
x
2
2
= x
1
= y
1
and the same reasoning using f
3
(x) = f
3
(y) gives x
2
= y
2
. Thus, g(x) = g(y) = x = y,
whether or not x = [S
1
]. So g is injective, thus we have g is a bijection. Also, D
2
is compact,
so q(D
2
) = D
2
/S
1
is compact since q is continuous, and S
2
is Hausdor so by Theorem 26.6
of Munkres, g is a homeomorphism between D
2
/S
1
and S
2
.
The proof that D
n
/S
n1
is homeomorphic to S
n
is analogous to the above proof except that
we dene f(x
1
, ..., x
n
) = (2
n
i=1
x
2
i
1, 2x
1

1
n
i=1
x
2
i
, ..., 2x
n

1
n
i=1
x
2
i
).
12) a. If a is the point in star-convex S which satises the denition of star-convexity, then
F(x, t) = ta + (1 t)x is a homotopy F : S I S between f(x) = x and g(x) = a (note
that F(x, t) is in S for all x, t because for each x, the line segment between x and a lies in
S).
b. If Y is contractible, then id
Y
f where f is a constant map, so a Y [ y Y, f(y) = a.
So there is a map F : Y I Y such that F(y, 0) = id
Y
(y) = y, F(y, 1) = f(y) = a.
Dene h : X Y by h(x) = a for all x X - clearly h is continuous (i.e. a map)
since any subset of Y either contains a in which case the pre-image is X, an open set,
or does not contain a in which case the pre-image is , an open set. Now take any map
g : X Y . Dene G : X I Y by G(x, t) = F(g(x), t). Since composition of
continuous functions is continuous, G is a map, and we know G(x, 0) = F(g(x), 0) = g(x)
and G(x, 1) = F(g(x), 1) = a = h(x) which shows that g h. Since this is true for all maps
g, we conclude [X, Y ] has a single element (all maps from X to Y are in a single equivalence
class for homotopy).
c. Since X is contractible, id
X
f where f is a constant map, so a X [ x Y, f(x) = a.
So there is a map F : X I X such that F(x, 0) = id
X
(x) = x, F(x, 1) = f(x) = a.
Fix b Y ; dene h : X Y by h(x) = b for all x X. Take any g : X Y . Since
Y is path-connected, there is a map p : [0, 1] Y such that p(0) = g(a), p(1) = b. Dene
G : XI Y by G(x, t) = g(F(x, 2t)) for t [0, 1/2] and G(x, t) = p(2t 1) for t [1/2, 1]
(we check the pieces match: G(x, 1/2) = g(F(x, 1)) = g(a) = p(0)). The two pieces of G are
continuous since composition of continuous functions is continuous and so G is continuous.
We know G(x, 0) = g(F(x, 0)) = g(x), G(x, 1) = p(1) = b = h(x) which shows g h. We
conclude that [X, Y ] has a single element.
d. Since X is contractible, there exists f : X X such that a X [ x X, f(x) = a and
id
X
f. So there exists a map F : XI X such that F(x, 0) = x, F(x, 1) = a. Take any
points b, c X. Dene p : I X by p(t) = F(b, 2t) for t [0, 1/2] and p(t) = F(c, 2 2t)
2
for t [1/2, 1] (verify matching of pieces: p(1/2) = F(b, 1) = a = F(c, 1) = p(1/2)). p is a
piecewise function of continuous functions, so p is continuous. So there is a path p from b to
c so X is path-connected.
Let h be the constant loop at a. Now take any loop g based at a (the contraction point).
Dene G : I I X by G(s, t) = F(g(s), st(1s)). Composition of continuous functions is
continuous, so G is continuous. We have G(s, 0) = F(g(s), 0) = g(s), G(s, 1) = F(g(s), 1) =
a = h(s), G(0, t) = F(g(0), 0) = g(0) = a, G(1, t) = F(g(1), 0) = g(1) = a, so the basepoint
is preserved, so g h which shows
1
(X, a) is the trivial group, i.e. X is simply connected.
14) a. We rst prove closure, i.e., that f, g being loops in G based at u implies that f g
is also such a loop. f g is a function from [0, 1] G (this is clear from the fact that
f(s), g(s) G = f(s) g(s) G). Suppose U G is open. Then denoting the inverse of
(x, y) xy by p
1
, we have p
1
(U) GG is open, which implies that it is the union of sets
T

in GG such that T

, V

are open in G; thus if h(s) = (f(s), g(s)) then h

1
(p
1
(U))
is the union of h
1
(T

) over all , and each h

1
(T

) = f
1
(T

) g
1
(V

) and by
continuity of f, g and the fact that a nite intersection of open sets is open, we know the
intersection is an open set. Since the union of open sets is open, this implies that h
1
(p
1
(U))
is open which proves that p h = f g is continuous, which shows it is a path. To see that
it is a loop based at u, (f g)(0) = f(0) g(0) = u u = u = f(1) g(1) = (f g)(1).
Associativity: s, ((f g) h)(s) = (f(s) g(s)) h(s) = f(s) (g(s) h(s)) = (f (g h))(s)
The identity is the constant loop e(s) = u. We can see that for all f
u
G, (f e)(s) =
f(s)e(s) = f(s)u = f(s) and similarly ef = f. The inverse of f is given by g(s) = f(s)
1
and this is clearly a loop based at u by the continuity of the inversion in G and the fact that
g(0) = f(0)
1
= u
1
= u = f(1)
1
= g(1).
b. For s [0, 1/2], ((f f

) (g g

))(s) = f(2s) g(2s) = ((f g) (f

))(s), while for

s [1/2, 1], ((f f

) (g g

))(s) = f

(2s 1) g

(2s 1) = ((f g) (f

))(s).
c. For any f
u
G, we denote by [f] the equivalence class of path homotopy in
1
(G, u). For
[f], [g]
1
(G, u), dene [f] [g] = [f g]. We must rst check that this operation is well-
dened, which is to say, if f f

and g g

, then [f g] = [f

], i.e. f g f

. There
exists F : I I G such that F(s, 0) = f(s), F(s, 1) = f

(s), F(0, t) = u, F(1, t) = u, and

there exists H : I I G such that H(s, 0) = g(s), H(s, 1) = g

(s), H(0, t) = u, H(1, t) = u.

Let J : I I G be dened by J(s, t) = F(s, t) H(s, t). J is continuous by composition
of continuous functions. Now we check: J(s, 0) = F(s, 0) H(s, 0) = f(s) g(s) = (f
g)(s), J(s, 1) = F(s, 1) H(s, 1) = f

(s) g

(s) = (f

)(s), J(0, t) = F(0, t) H(0, t) =

u u = u, J(1, t) = F(1, t) H(1, t) = u u = u, so we have proved that J is a path-homotopy
from f g to f

, so the operation on
1
(G, u) is well-dened.
Now the standard group properties of (
1
(G, u), ) are easy to prove (they follow from the
group properties of (
u
G, )): closedness comes from the fact that f g is a loop in G by ,
so [f g]
1
(G, u). The identity is [e] where e(s) = u since [f] [e] = [f e] = [f] which
by the same reasoning equals [e] [f]. Similarly the inverse is [g] where g(s) = f(s)
1
and
associativity is also proved in a similar way.
3
d. Let e be the constant loop at u. We have [f] [g] = [(f e) (eg)] = [(f e) (eg)] =
[f] [g].
e. [f] [g] = [f] [g] = [f g], so it suces to show that f g g f. Dene
F(s, t) = f(st)
1
f(s) g(s) f(st). The function is continuous by composition of continuous
functions. We check: F(s, 0) = f(0)
1
f(s) g(s) f(0) = f(s) g(s) = (f g)(s), F(s, 1) =
f(s)
1
f(s) g(s) f(s) = g(s) f(s) = (g f)(s), F(0, t) = f(0)
1
f(0) g(0) f(0) =
u, F(1, t) = f(t)
1
f(1) g(1) f(t) = u. Thus F is a path-homotopy between f g, g f
which completes the proof.
18) a. Let p : I X be the loop in X. Since p(0) = p(1), p induces a continuous function
f
p
: I/0, 1 X, such that p(s) = f
p
(q(s)) where q is the quotient map from I I/0, 1.
Note that I/0, 1 is homeomorphic to S
1
by the result of question 6) b. (the actual proof
of this is given in Proposition 7.3 of Tus An Introduction To Manifolds, pg. 65). Denoting
the homeomorphism from S
1
to I/0, 1 by h, we get that f
p
h is a continuous map from
S
1
X. Given x X, dene F :
1
(X, x) [S
1
, X] by F([p]) = [f
p
h] where f
p
, h are
dened as above. For this function to be well-dened, we need to know that if p p

, then
f
p
h f
p
h. Let G be the homotopy from p to p

; dene g
t
(s) = G(s, t); g
t
is continuous
for each t, and it is a loop in X. Dene H : S
1
I X by H(s, t) = f
gt
h, which is
clearly continuous. We verify the following: H(s, 0) = (f
g
0
h)(s) = (f
p
h)(s), H(s, 1) =
(f
g
1
h)(s) = (f
p
h)(s), so we have the desired homotopy, so F is well-dened.
b. For [p]
1
(X, x), denote the conjugacy class by C([p]), and denote the set of conjugacy
classes by C(
1
). If it is true that whenever [p] [m], we have F([p]) = F([m]), then F
induces a well-dened function F

: C() [S
1
, X] dened by F

(C([p])) = F([p]). Suppose

[p] [m]; then [p] = [n] [m] [n]
1
. Then F([p]) = F([n] [m] [n]
1
) = [f
nmn
1 h].
Since f
nmn
1 h wraps n m n
1
around S
1
, it is clear that f
nmn
1 f
n
1
nm
= f
m
so
F([p]) = F([m]). So F

is well dened.
Now take any [] [S
1
, X]. Now h
1
is a map from I/0, 1 to X, and there clearly
exists a loop m such that f
m
= h
1
; call the basepoint of this loop b . Since X is path
connected, there exists a path from x to b so m
1
is a loop at x. Again, we see that
f
m
1 h f
m
h = , so F([ m
1
]) = [] so F is surjective so it follows that F

is
surjective.
For injectivity, we must prove that if F([m]) = F([p]), then [m] [p], i.e. for some loop
n, p n m n
1
. We know f
m
h f
p
h (call the homotopy G). So G is a map
S
1
I X such that G(s, 0) = (f
m
h)(s), G(s, 1) = (f
p
h)(s), so G h
1
q is a
homotopy from m to p (continuity holds since h is a homeomorphism). But, although
f
m
(0, 1) = m(0) = m(1) = p(0) = p(1) = f
p
(0, 1 = x, we are not guaranteed that
(G h
1
)(0, 1, t) = x for all 0 < t < 1. Note (t) = (G h
1
)(0, 1, t) is a path in X.
Consider
1
m .
c. First we show that X is path-connected. Consider any x, y X and let f(s) = x, g(s) = y
for all s S
1
. Since [S
1
, X] has one element, f g so there exists a map F : S
1
I X
such that F(s, 0) = f(s) = x, F(s, 1) = g(s) = y. By xing s, we get a map g such that
g(t) = F(s, t), g(0) = x, g(1) = y, so X is path connected.
4
If [S
1
, X] has one element then by part b., there is just one conjugacy class in
1
(X, x), so
for any loop g based at x, [g] [e
x
] so there exists [h]
1
(X, x) such that [h][e
x
][h]
1
= [g]
so [g] = [e
x
] which shows that
1
(X, x) is just the trivial group, i.e. X is simply connected.
d. If X is contractible, then id
X
f where f is a constant map, i.e., a X, x X, f(x) =
a. Denote the homotopy between id
X
, f by F. Take any map g : S
1
X. We can write
g = id
X
g. Dene h : S
1
X by h(s) = a (this denition is of course independent of g),
and dene G(s, t) = F(g(s), t). By composition of continuous functions, G is continuous, and
now we verify the following: G(s, 0) = F(g(s), 0) = g(s), G(s, 1) = F(g(s), 1) = a = h(s), so
g h for all such g, so [S
1
, X] has exactly one element, so X being simply connected follows
directly from part c.
5