Questions tagged [homology-cohomology]

Use this tag if your question involves some type of (co)homology, including (but not limited to) simplicial, singular or group (co)homology. Consider the tag (homological-algebra) for more abstract aspects of (co)homology theory.

A chain complex $(A_{\bullet}, d_{\bullet})$ is a sequence $(A_n)_{-\infty}^{\infty}$ of abelian groups (or modules) and group (module) homomorphisms $d_n : A_n \to A_{n-1}$ such that $d_{n-1}\circ d_n = 0$. This data can be represented as follows:

$$\cdots \xrightarrow{d_{n+1}} A_n \xrightarrow{d_n} A_{n-1} \xrightarrow{d_{n-1}} \cdots$$

The homology of a chain complex is the sequence of abelian groups

$$H_n = \frac{\ker d_n}{\operatorname{im}d_{n+1}}.$$

Dually, a cochain complex is a sequence $(A_{\bullet}, d_{\bullet})$ of abelian groups where $d_n : A_n \to A_{n+1}$.

There are many common types of (co)homology including simplicial (co)homology, singular (co)homology, and group (co)homology. A more extensive list can be found here.

Simplicial homology and singular homology are examples of homology theories attached to a topological space. The Eilenberg-Steenrod axioms are a collection of properties that such homology theories share.

For the more abstract aspects of (co)homology theory, the tag may be more appropriate.

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Is there a homology theory that counts connected components of a space?

It is well-known that the generators of the zeroth singular homology group $H_0(X)$ of a space $X$ correspond to the path components of $X$. I have recently learned that for Čech homology the corresponding statement would be that $\check{H}_0(X)$ is…
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Intuition of the meaning of homology groups

I am studying homology groups and I am looking to try and develop, if possible, a little more intuition about what they actually mean. I've only been studying homology for a short while, so if possible I would prefer it if this could be kept…
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Gross-Zagier formulae outside of number theory

(Edit: I have asked this question on MO.) The Gross-Zagier formula and various variations of it form the starting point in most of the existing results towards the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture. It relates the value at $1$ of the derivative…
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Direct proof that the wedge product preserves integral cohomology classes?

Let $H^k(M,\mathbb R)$ be the De Rham cohomology of a manifold $M$. There is a canonical map $H^k(M;\mathbb Z) \to H^k(M;\mathbb R)$ from the integral cohomology to the cohomology with coefficients in $\mathbb R$, which is isomorphic to the De Rham…
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What is the solution to Nash's problem presented in "A Beautiful Mind"?

I was watching the said movie the other night, and I started thinking about the equation posed by Nash in the movie. More specifically, the one he said would take some students a lifetime to solve (obviously, an exaggeration). Nonetheless, one…
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Topological spaces admitting an averaging function

Let $M$ be a topological space. Define an averaging function as a continuous map $f:M \times M \to M$ which satisfies $f(a,b) = f(b,a)$ for all $a,b \in M$ and $f(a,a) = a$ for all $a \in M$. These seem like reasonable properties for a function…
Steven Gubkin
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Simplicial homology of real projective space by Mayer-Vietoris

Consider the $n$-sphere $S^n$ and the real projective space $\mathbb{RP}^n$. There is a universal covering map $p: S^n \to \mathbb{RP}^n$, and it's clear that it's the coequaliser of $\mathrm{id}: S^n \to S^n$ and the antipodal map $a: S^n \to S^n$.…
Zhen Lin
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Algebraic Topology Challenge: Homology of an Infinite Wedge of Spheres

So the following comes to me from an old algebraic topology final that got the best of me. I wasn't able to prove it due to a lack of technical confidence, and my topology has only deteriorated since then. But, I'm hoping maybe someone can figure…
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Penrose's remark on impossible figures

I'd like to think that I understand symmetry groups. I know what the elements of a symmetry group are - they are transformations that preserve an object or its relevant features - and I know what the group operation is - composition of…
whacka
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Difference between simplicial and singular homology?

I am having some difficulties understanding the difference between simplicial and singular homology. I am aware of the fact that they are isomorphic, i.e. the homology groups are in fact the same (and maybe this doesnt't help my intuition), but I am…
user48168
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Intuitive Approach to de Rham Cohomology

The intuition behind homology may be summarized in a sentence: to find objects without boundary which are not the boundary of an object. This has geometric meaning and explains the algebraic boundary operator $\partial$ - quotient of vector spaces…
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When should I be doing cohomology?

Background: I'm a logic student with very little background in cohomology etc., so this question is fairly naive. Although mathematical logic is generally perceived as sitting off on its own, there are some striking applications of…
Noah Schweber
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Use of Reduced Homology

I've been reading Hatcher's Algebraic Topology, specifically the paragraph about reduced homology $\tilde{H}_*$ (for singular homology of topological spaces). Can someone please provide reasons why reduced homology is defined and studied? I…
Olivier Bégassat
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Why do universal $\delta$-functors annihilate injectives?

Let $\mathcal{A}$ and $\mathcal{B}$ be abelian categories. Suppose $\mathcal{A}$ has enough injectives, and consider a universal (cohomological) $\delta$-functor $T^\bullet$ from $\mathcal{A}$ to $\mathcal{B}$. By the theory of derived functors, we…
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How to define Homology Functor in an arbitrary Abelian Category?

In the Category of Modules over a Ring, the i-th Homology of a Chain Complex is defined as the Quotient Ker d / Im d where d as usual denotes the differentials, indexes skipped for simplicity. How can this be generalized to a general Abelian…
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