Algebraic topology. A primer (Q5907042)

This book is designed to serve as a textbook for a first course in algebraic topology. The prerequisites for the study of this book are briefly discussed in the first chapter and in the Appendix to make it self-contained. First, the fundamental group and its properties are presented. After computing the fundamental group of the circle, the author shows how it can be used to compute fundamental groups of other spaces by geometric methods. Then, the topology of finite simplicial complexes is presented and the simplicial approximation theorem is proved. The author provides a detailed discussion on simplicial homology of compact polyhedra. Classical applications of the techniques of homology groups include the proof of the fact that the Euclidean spaces of different dimensions are not homeomorphic, Brouwer's Fixed Point Theorem, the Borsuk-Ulam Theorem and the Lefschetz Fixed Point theorem. The author presents the theory of covering projections and its relation with fundamental groups, results on lifting of a map, classification of covering projections and the universal coverings. In the last chapter singular homology and cohomology is presented including proofs of the homotopy axiom and the excision axiom. Examples are given at every stage to illustrate and bring out the underlying concepts and the results. This is an interesting book for beginners and should enable them to pursue advanced courses in any branch of algebraic topology.