Let γ:[0,1]→C be a continuous map never taking the value 0 and satisfying γ(0)=γ(1). Define the degree (or winding number) w(γ;0) of γ about 0 . Prove the following.
(i) If δ:[0,1]→C\{0} is a continuous map satisfying δ(0)=δ(1), then the winding number of the product γδ is given by w(γδ;0)=w(γ;0)+w(δ;0).
(ii) If σ:[0,1]→C is continuous, σ(0)=σ(1) and ∣σ(t)∣<∣γ(t)∣ for each 0⩽t⩽1, then w(γ+σ;0)=w(γ;0).
(iii) Let D={z∈C:∣z∣⩽1} and let f:D→C be a continuous function with f(z)=0 whenever ∣z∣=1. Define α:[0,1]→C by α(t)=f(e2πit). Then if w(α;0)=0, there must exist some z∈D, such that f(z)=0. [It may help to define F(s,t):=f(se2πit). Homotopy invariance of the winding number may be assumed.]