Algebraic Topology / Edition 1

by Allen Hatcher

Overview

In most major universities one of the three or four basic first-year graduate mathematics courses is algebraic topology. This introductory text is suitable for use in a course on the subject or for self-study, featuring broad coverage and a readable exposition, with many examples and exercises. The four main chapters present the basics: fundamental group and covering spaces, homology and cohomology, higher homotopy groups, and homotopy theory generally. The author emphasizes the geometric aspects of the subject, which helps students gain intuition. A unique feature is the inclusion of many optional topics not usually part of a first course due to time constraints: Bockstein and transfer homomorphisms, direct and inverse limits, H-spaces and Hopf algebras, the Brown representability theorem, the James reduced product, the Dold-Thom theorem, and Steenrod squares and powers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521795401
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/03/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	556
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.20(d)

Table of Contents

Part I. Some Underlying Geometric Notions: 1. Homotopy and homotopy type; 2. Deformation retractions; 3. Homotopy of maps; 4. Homotopy equivalent spaces; 5. Contractible spaces; 6. Cell complexes definitions and examples; 7. Subcomplexes; 8. Some basic constructions; 9. Two criteria for homotopy equivalence; 10. The homotopy extension property; Part II. Fundamental Group and Covering Spaces: 11. The fundamental group, paths and homotopy; 12. The fundamental group of the circle; 13. Induced homomorphisms; 14. Van Kampen's theorem of free products of groups; 15. The van Kampen theorem; 16. Applications to cell complexes; 17. Covering spaces lifting properties; 18. The classification of covering spaces; 19. Deck transformations and group actions; 20. Additional topics: graphs and free groups; 21. K(G,1) spaces; 22. Graphs of groups; Part III. Homology: 23. Simplicial and singular homology Δ-complexes; 24. Simplicial homology; 25. Singular homology; 26. Homotopy invariance; 27. Exact sequences and excision; 28. The equivalence of simplicial and singular homology; 29. Computations and applications degree; 30. Cellular homology; 31. Euler characteristic; 32. Split exact sequences; 33. Mayer–Vietoris sequences; 34. Homology with coefficients; 35. The formal viewpoint axioms for homology; 36. Categories and functors; 37. Additional topics homology and fundamental group; 38. Classical applications; 39. Simplicial approximation and the Lefschetz fixed point theorem; Part IV. Cohomology: 40. Cohomology groups: the universal coefficient theorem; 41. Cohomology of spaces; 42. Cup product the cohomology ring; 43. External cup product; 44. Poincaré duality orientations; 45. Cup product; 46. Cup product and duality; 47. Other forms of duality; 48. Additional topics the universal coefficient theorem for homology; 49. The Kunneth formula; 50. H-spaces and Hopf algebras; 51. The cohomology of SO(n); 52. Bockstein homomorphisms; 53. Limits; 54. More about ext; 55. Transfer homomorphisms; 56. Local coefficients; Part V. Homotopy Theory: 57. Homotopy groups; 58. The long exact sequence; 59. Whitehead's theorem; 60. The Hurewicz theorem; 61. Eilenberg–MacLane spaces; 62. Homotopy properties of CW complexes cellular approximation; 63. Cellular models; 64. Excision for homotopy groups; 65. Stable homotopy groups; 66. Fibrations the homotopy lifting property; 67. Fiber bundles; 68. Path fibrations and loopspaces; 69. Postnikov towers; 70. Obstruction theory; 71. Additional topics: basepoints and homotopy; 72. The Hopf invariant; 73. Minimal cell structures; 74. Cohomology of fiber bundles; 75. Cohomology theories and omega-spectra; 76. Spectra and homology theories; 77. Eckmann-Hilton duality; 78. Stable splittings of spaces; 79. The loopspace of a suspension; 80. Symmetric products and the Dold–Thom theorem; 81. Steenrod squares and powers; Appendix: topology of cell complexes; The compact-open topology.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Algebraic topoligy books that emphasize geometrical intuition usually have only a modest technical reach. Remarkably, Hatcher (Cornell Univ.) offers a highly geometrical treatment that neverheless matches the coverage of, e.g., Edwin Henry Spanier's very formidable and identically titled classic work... He promises two advanced companion volumes, one on spectral sequences, one on vector bundles. One anticipates the combined treatise doing for algebraic topology what Michael Spivak's magisterial five-volume set did for differential geometry." Choice

Editorial Reviews

"Algebraic topoligy books that emphasize geometrical intuition usually have only a modest technical reach. Remarkably, Hatcher (Cornell Univ.) offers a highly geometrical treatment that neverheless matches the coverage of, e.g., Edwin Henry Spanier's very formidable and identically titled classic work... He promises two advanced companion volumes, one on spectral sequences, one on vector bundles. One anticipates the combined treatise doing for algebraic topology what Michael Spivak's magisterial five-volume set did for differential geometry." Choice

From the Publisher

Hatcher (mathematics, Cornell U.) presents an introduction to algebraic topology that retains the classical feel of the field from three or four decades ago, but clarifies some of the most important results and techniques that have arisen in the intervening years. The emphasis leans towards the geometric, rather than algebraic, aspects of the subject. After presenting some of the basic geometric concepts and constructions of the subject, Hatcher separates his treatment into the two broad topics of homology and homotopy. He assumes the reader has familiarity with the content of standard courses in algebra and point-set topology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)