On multiplicity of maps (Q409677)

The authors consider the root problem for various kinds of spaces: For a map \(f:X\to Y\) of topological spaces and \(y\in Y\) we denote by \(\text{MR}(f,y)\) the minimal cardinality of \(g^{-1}(\{y\})\) for \(g\) homotopic to \(f\) and \(\text{MMR}(f)=\min_{g\simeq f}\max_{y\in Y}\#g^{-1}(\{y\})\). A continuum is called manifold-like if it is homeomorphic to the limit of an inverse sequence of manifolds of the same dimension \(M_1@<<p_1^2<M_2@<<p_2^3<\dotsb\) where the bonding maps have nonzero degree. If \(p:X\to Y\) is a \(k\)-sheeted covering (with \(k<\infty\)) of continua where \(Y\) (and hence \(X\)) is manifold-like then it is shown that \(\text{MR}(p,y)=\text{MMR}(p)=k\) for every \(y\in Y\). In particular, compact connected finite-dimensional abelian groups are manifold-like, and the authors prove: If \(f:G_1\to G_2\) is a continuous map of compact connected finite-dimensional abelian groups of the same dimension and if \(f^{*1}:H^1(G_2)\to H^1(G_1)\) has finite cokernel then we have that \(0<\text{MR}(f,y)=\text{MMR}(f)=\#\text{Coker}f^{*1}\). Let \(G_1\) and \(G_2\) be as in the last result and \(f:G_1\to G_2\) continuous then it is shown that the following are equivalent: (1) \(\deg f\not=0\), (2) \(f^{*1}\) has zero kernel, (3) the cokernel of \(f^{*1}\) is zero.