Regular homotopy classes of locally generic mappings. (Q1426477)

Every continuous mapping \(M\to N\) of smooth manifolds of dimensions \(n\) and \(2n-1\), respectively \(n\geq 2\), can be approximated by a locally generic mapping, i.e., a mapping with only Whitney umbrella singularities. The author proves that locally generic mappings \(f,g: M^2\to \mathbb{R}^3\) of a closed connected surface are homotopic through locally generic mappings if and only if the numbers of Whitney umbrellas of \(f\) and \(g\) are the same.