13
$\begingroup$

Let $X$ be a topological space and $S:\mathbf{Top}\to \mathbf{Top}$ be the suspension functor.

It's not hard to show using e.g. the long exact sequence of homology that $\tilde{H_n}(X)\simeq \tilde{H}_{n+1}(SX)$ (where $\tilde{H_n}$ denotes reduced homology).

However, I need to

"construct explicit chain maps $f:C_n(X)\to C_{n+1}(SX)$ inducing isomorphisms $\tilde{H_n}(X)\to \tilde{H_{n+1}}(SX)$"

(this is problem 21 in section 2.1 of Hatcher's book).

Here's my attempt:

Define $f:C_n(X)\to C_{n+1}(SX)$ as follows. If $\sigma:\Delta^n\to X$ is a singular $n$-chain, then its suspension is $S\sigma:S\Delta^n\to SX$.

It's geometrically clear that $S\Delta^n$ is the union of two $n+1$- standard simplexes, call them $\Delta^{n+1}_0$ and $\Delta^{n+1}_1$, identified by a face.

Let $f(\sigma):=S\sigma|_{\Delta^{n+1}_1}-S\sigma|_{\Delta^{n+1}_0}$. Then extend $f$ linearly to all of $C_n(X)$.

A little manipulation proves that $f$ is indeed a chain map.

Now the problem is: how to prove that $f_*:\tilde{H_n}(X)\to \tilde{H}_{n+1}(SX)$ is an isomorphism?

I thought perhaps the connecting homomorphism $\partial:H_{n+1}(CX,X)\to \tilde{H}_n(X)$ could help. Since $(CX,X)$ is a good pair, there is an isomorphism $\varphi:\tilde{H_{n+1}}(CX/X)=\tilde{H}_{n+1}(SX)\to H_{n+1}(CX,X)$.

But how to prove that $\partial \varphi$ is the inverse of $f_*$?

Or perhaps this is a terrible approach... but I've run out of ideas.

  • 1
    It may be circumventing the intent of the exercise, but couldn't you just argue that your map is the "same" as the map in the long exact sequence, so induces an isomorphism?2012-05-01
  • 0
    @Jim: By "your map", do you mean $\partial \varphi$? Yes, being the composition of two isomorphisms it is an isomorphism, but how could I link it to $f_*$? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment, did you mean something else?2012-05-01

1 Answers 1