B2.8

Algebraic Topology | Part II, 2004

Let KK and LL be finite simplicial complexes. Define the nn-th chain group Cn(K)C_{n}(K) and the boundary homomorphism dn:Cn(K)→Cn−1(K)d_{n}: C_{n}(K) \rightarrow C_{n-1}(K). Prove that dn−1dn=0d_{n-1} d_{n}=0 and define the homology groups of KK. Explain briefly how a simplicial map f:K→Lf: K \rightarrow L induces a homomorphism f⋆f_{\star} of homology groups.

Suppose now that KK consists of the proper faces of a 3-dimensional simplex. Calculate from first principles the homology groups of KK. If a simplicial map f:K→Kf: K \rightarrow K gives a homeomorphism of the underlying polyhedron ∣K∣|K|, is the induced homology map f⋆f_{\star} necessarily the identity?

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