Dimension-raising theorems for cohomological and extension dimensions (Q952614)

Let \(f:X\to Y\) be a finite-to-one closed and onto map of separable metric spaces. \(\mu (f)\) is the set of equivalence classes of sets which occur as \(f^{-1}(y)\). \textit{W. Hurewicz} proved [J. Reine Angew. Math. 169, 71--78 (1933; Zbl 0006.32803)] that if \(\dim Y-\dim X\geq k\), then card \((\mu (f))\geq k+1\). For example, if \(f\) is a covering map, so that \(k=0\), \(\mu (f)\) is a single point represented by a set with the single element equal to the number of sheets in the cover. This extends earlier work of H. Freudenthal. The main purpose of this paper is to extend Hurewicz's theorem to paracompact spaces using the Čech cohomology notion of dimension, or the extension idea of dimension which comes from \textit{P. J. Huber} [Math. Ann. 144, 73--76 (1961; Zbl 0096.37504)]. Details are quite complicated.