Square lemma for Paths, Homotopy

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In summary, in Lee's "Topological Manifolds", there is a result called "The Square Lemma" which states that if we have a topological space X, a continuous function F from the unit interval I x I to X, and four paths f, g, h, and k defined in terms of F, then f*g is homotopic to h*k. This may not be true if X is not simply connected, but in the case of X=I x I and F=id, it is true. The confusion arose from thinking of I x I as just the boundary of a square rather than the entire square.
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Homework Statement


In Lee's "Topological Manifolds", there is a result on page 193 called "The Square Lemma" which states that if [itex] I[/itex] denotes the unit interval in [itex] \mathbb{R}, [/itex] [itex] X [/itex] is a topological space, [itex]F\colon I\times I\to X [/itex] is continuous, and [itex] f,g,h,k [/itex] are paths defined by
[itex] f(s)=F(s,0),\ g(s)=F(1,s),\ h(s)=F(0,s),\ k(s)=F(s,1), [/itex]
then [itex] f\cdot g\sim h\cdot k [/itex] where [itex] \cdot [/itex] denotes path concatonation and [itex] \sim [/itex] denotes homotopy rel [itex] \{0,1\}. [/itex]

It seems to me that this is not guaranteed to be true if [itex] X [/itex] is not simply connected. Indeed if we take [itex] X=I\times I [/itex] and take [itex] F=\text{id}_{I\times I} [/itex], then I don't think that we have [itex] f\cdot g\sim h\cdot k [/itex].

Am I wrong about this?
 
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What's not simply connected about I x I? And why don't you think fg and hk are homotopic? You can deform them both to a path across the diagonal of the square.
 
  • #3
Ah. Brain malfunction on my part. For some reason I was thinking of [itex] I\times I [/itex] as the boundary of the square and not the whole square. That's sorted then. Thanks!
 

FAQ: Square lemma for Paths, Homotopy

What is the Square Lemma for Paths?

The Square Lemma for Paths is a theorem in algebraic topology that states that if two paths in a topological space have the same endpoints and are homotopic, then they are also homotopic relative to their endpoints. This means that the two paths can be continuously deformed into each other while keeping their endpoints fixed.

How is the Square Lemma for Paths used in homotopy theory?

The Square Lemma for Paths is an important tool in homotopy theory as it allows us to study the properties of homotopies between paths more closely. It allows us to focus on the behavior of paths at their endpoints, rather than their entire domain. This makes it easier to prove more general theorems about homotopies and paths.

Can you provide an example of the Square Lemma for Paths in action?

Imagine two paths in a topological space, one going from point A to point B and the other going from point C to point D. If these two paths are homotopic, then the Square Lemma for Paths tells us that we can continuously deform the path from A to B into the path from C to D while keeping the endpoints fixed. This is a visual representation of the theorem and shows how it can be used to study the behavior of paths.

Is the Square Lemma for Paths a generalization of the Homotopy Extension Property?

Yes, the Square Lemma for Paths is a generalization of the Homotopy Extension Property. The Homotopy Extension Property is a special case of the Square Lemma for Paths where the paths in question are constant at their endpoints. The Square Lemma for Paths allows for more flexibility in the behavior of paths and is thus a more powerful tool in homotopy theory.

What are some applications of the Square Lemma for Paths in mathematics?

The Square Lemma for Paths has many applications in mathematics, particularly in algebraic topology and differential geometry. It is often used to prove more general theorems about homotopies and paths, and has also been used to study the behavior of geodesics on curved surfaces. Additionally, it has applications in knot theory and the study of manifolds.

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