Paper 3, Section II, F

Algebraic Topology
Part II, 2019

Let KK be a simplicial complex, and LL a subcomplex. As usual, Ck(K)C_{k}(K) denotes the group of kk-chains of KK, and Ck(L)C_{k}(L) denotes the group of kk-chains of LL.

(a) Let

Ck(K,L)=Ck(K)/Ck(L)C_{k}(K, L)=C_{k}(K) / C_{k}(L)

for each integer kk. Prove that the boundary map of KK descends to give C(K,L)C_{\bullet}(K, L) the structure of a chain complex.

(b) The homology groups of KK relative to LL, denoted by Hk(K,L)H_{k}(K, L), are defined to be the homology groups of the chain complex C(K,L)C_{\bullet}(K, L). Prove that there is a long exact sequence that relates the homology groups of KK relative to LL to the homology groups of KK and the homology groups of LL.

(c) Let DnD_{n} be the closed nn-dimensional disc, and Sn1S^{n-1} be the (n1)(n-1)-dimensional sphere. Exhibit simplicial complexes KnK_{n} and subcomplexes Ln1L_{n-1} such that DnKnD_{n} \cong\left|K_{n}\right| in such a way that Ln1\left|L_{n-1}\right| is identified with Sn1S^{n-1}.

(d) Compute the relative homology groups Hk(Kn,Ln1)H_{k}\left(K_{n}, L_{n-1}\right), for all integers k0k \geqslant 0 and n2n \geqslant 2 where KnK_{n} and Ln1L_{n-1} are as in (c).