No label defined (Q4409977)

For any `collection of spaces' A and map \(f\), the \(A\)-category and \(A\)-cone length are defined axiomatically. We write these as \(\text{cat}_A(f)\) and \(\text{Cl}_A(f)\). These invariants generalize the category of \(f\) as defined by Fadell, Husseini and Cornea, and the cone length of \(f\) due to Marcum. The authors compare their invariants in detail with similar ones of Scheerer and Tanré. Both invariants can be characterized in terms of `\(A\)-category and \(A\)-cone length decompositions of \(f\)' of minimal length. Taking \(f\) to be \(\ast \rightarrow X\) or \(X\rightarrow \ast\) gives four invariants of \(X\) relative to \(A\); if \(A\) is the collection of all spaces and \(f\) is \(\ast \rightarrow X\), we get the usual notions. However, \(\text{cat}(X\rightarrow \ast)\) is a new invariant and \(\text{Cl}(X\rightarrow \ast)\) is the killing length of \(X\) due to Arkowitz and Strom. The authors relate all four invariants by inequalities, which can be strict. The last section discusses \(\text{cat}_A(f)\), \(Cl_A(f)\) and some cohomological lower bounds. For the entire collection see [Zbl 1005.00038].