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Say we have a finite CW complex with cells only in even degrees. For example a $\mathbb {CP}^n$ or a complex flag variety. If we know the rational cohomology ring, does it also determine the integral cohomology ring?

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Form two CW-complexes $X_f$ and $X_g$ by choosing attaching maps $f, g: S^3 \to S^2$ with Hopf invariant $H(f) = 1$ and $H(g) = 2$. Then, $H^*(X_f, \mathbb Q)$ and $H^*(X_g, \mathbb Q)$ are isomorphic as graded rings, but $H^*(X_f, \mathbb Z) = \mathbb Z[x_2]/(x_2^3)$ is not isomorphic to $H^*(X_g, \mathbb Z) = \mathbb Z[x_2, y_4]/(x_2^2 - 2y_4, y_4^2, x_2y_4)$.

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    Do these complexes only have cells in even dimensions?2011-10-27
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    Yes, they both have 1 cell each in dimensions 0, 2 and 4. (Using the appropriate CW structure on $S^2$).2011-10-27
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    Ah, I see, I misunderstood how your construction worked. I now understand you're simply describing an attaching map of a 4-cell onto $S^2$.2011-10-27
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    The OP asked for a finite CW complex, but then gave examples which are closed manifolds. Do you happen to know the answer if we restrict to closed manifolds? I'd be surprised if the rational cohomology ring determines the integral ring in this case, but I don't know of any counter examples off hand.2011-10-27
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    Thanks for the fast answer!2011-10-27
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    (This is not really important, but I stumbled upon this 2.5 years later and I think I have an answer to my own question in comments. There are indeed examples involving closed simply connected manifolds. For example, there are a $\mathbb{Z}$s worth of $S^2$ bundles over $S^4$, all having cohomology ring isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}[x_2, x_4]/ x_2^2 = k x_4, x_2^4 = x_4^2 = 0$ for $k\in\mathbb{Z}$. I believe that when $k$ is a perfect square, the rational cohomology ring matches that of $\mathbb{C}P^3$ (which is the case $k=1$.))2014-04-16
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    @JasonDeVito About 5 years later, I'd like to suggest that you write your comment as an answer :) it's interesting and deserves to be its own answer, IMO.2016-11-21
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Following Najib's suggestion, I'll promote my comment to an answer.

Here is an infinite family of examples of closed simply connected manifold with cells only in even dimensions with isomorphic rational cohomology rings but pairwise non-isomorphic integral cohomology rings.

First, consider $\mathbb{C}P^3$ as the set of complex lines in $\mathbb{C}^4$. We identify $\mathbb{C}^4$ with $\mathbb{H}^2$, where $\mathbb{H}$ denotes the quaternions. Each complex line in $\mathbb{C}^4$ can be enlarged to a quaternionic line in $\mathbb{H}^2$ buy multiplying by $j$ and taking the span of the two complex lines.

This determines a map $\mathbb{C}P^3 \stackrel{\pi}{\rightarrow} \mathbb{H}P^1 = S^4$. In fact, this map is a fiber bundle map with fiber $S^2$, so we have a bundle $S^2\rightarrow \mathbb{C}P^3\rightarrow S^4$.

Now, fix an integer $k\neq 0$. Let $g:S^4\rightarrow S^4$ be any map of degree $k$. Let $S^2\rightarrow E_k \stackrel{\pi_k}{\rightarrow} S^4$ denote the bundle obtained by pulling back $S^2\rightarrow \mathbb{C}P^3\rightarrow S^4$ along $g$.

Claim 1: $E_k$ has a cell structure with only even degree cells.

Proof: $S^2\times S^4$ certainly does as $S^2$ and $S^4$ individually have a decomposition into even degree cells. But the decomposition into cells for a non-trivial bundle is the same as for the trivial bundle, but with different gluing maps.

$\square$

Claim 2: The generator of $H^2(E_k)\cong\mathbb{Z}$ squares to $k$ times a generator in $H^4(E_k)\cong\mathbb{Z}$.

Believing this for a moment, its clear that the rational cohomology rings will be isomorphic (unless $k = 0$).

Proof: Let $x\in H^2(\mathbb{C}P^3)$ generate the cohomology ring. From the pull back diagram we have a commutative diagram of fiber bundles $\begin{array} SS^2 & \stackrel{id}{\longrightarrow} & S^2 \\ \downarrow & & \downarrow \\ E_k & \stackrel{\overline{g}}{\longrightarrow} & \mathbb{C}P^3 \\ \downarrow{\pi_k} & & \downarrow{\pi} \\ S^4 & \stackrel{g}{\longrightarrow} & S^4 \end{array}$

From the Gysin sequence for each bundle, we see the map $H^2(E_k)\rightarrow H^2(S^2)$ is an isomorphism, as is the map $H^2(\mathbb{C}P^3)\rightarrow H^2(S^2)$. By commutativity of the top square, we deduce that $\overline{g}^\ast(x)$ generates $H^2(E_k)$.

Now, let $y\in H^4(S^4)$ be generator. From the Serre spectral sequence, we see that $\pi^\ast(y)$ generates $H^4(\mathbb{C}P^3)$, so $\pi^\ast(y) = x^2$ and also that $\pi_k^\ast(y)$ generates $H^4(E_k)$.

Now, recalling that $\overline{g}^\ast(x)$ generates $H^2(E_k)$, we compute \begin{align*} \overline{g}^\ast(x)^2 &= \overline{g}^\ast(x^2)\\ &= \overline{g}^\ast(\pi^\ast(y))\\ &= \pi_k^\ast(g^\ast(y))\\ &= \pi_k^\ast(ky)\\ &= k\pi_k^\ast(y). \end{align*}

In other words, the generator of $H^2(E_k)$ squares to $k$ times a generator of $H^4(E_k)$.

$\square$