 Fundamental group

The fundamental group ${\pi }_1(X,x_0)$ consists of based loops modulo based homotopy. Multiplication follows one based loop and then the other; the constant based loop represents the identity, and path reversal gives the inverse. Passing to homotopy classes makes this operation associative, as explained by well-defined loop concatenation.

Identify the circle with $S^1=\{z\in \mathbb{C}:|z|=1\}$ and choose basepoint $1$. Its based loopshave winding number $n$: positive $n$ counts counterclockwise turns, negative $n$ counts clockwise turns, and $n=0$ gives the constant based loop. Every based loop on the circle is joined by a based homotopy to exactly one ${\gamma }_n$. ConsequentlyThis is Hatcher's Theorem 1.7 in Algebraic Topology, §1.1, pp. 29–30. For example, two counterclockwise turns followed by one clockwise turn represent $2+(-1)=1$, rather than three turns. The winding graph in the figure above makes the signed arithmetic visible.

A proof outline uses the covering map $q:\mathbb{R}\to S^1$, $q(u)=e^{2\pi iu}$. By the path lifting theorem, a based loop has a unique lift starting at zero and ending at an integer $n$. Interpolating its lift to $s\mapsto ns$ produces a based homotopy to ${\gamma }_n$. The homotopy lifting theorem for a covering map keeps that endpoint unchanged during a based homotopy, proving uniqueness.

In the filled disk, every based loop $\gamma$ at $x_0$ has a based homotopy to the constant based loop:Both endpoints remain $x_0$, and the convex set property of the disk keeps every intermediate point inside. Thus ${\pi }_1(D^2,x_0)$ is the trivial group. Together with the deformation retraction above, this computes three concrete answers: the filled disk has trivial fundamental group, while the circle and the annulus have infinite cyclic groups.

Maps have computable algebraic shadows too. The continuous map $p_n:S^1\to S^1$, $p_n(z)=z^n$, fixes $1$ and sends ${\gamma }_k$ to ${\gamma }_{nk}$. Its induced group homomorphism is therefore $k\mapsto nk$, and its mapping degree is $n$. For $n=2$ the image consists of even integers, so this map cannot be a homotopy equivalence. Composing $p_2$ with $p_{-3}$ gives $p_{-6}$: map composition multiplies degrees, whereas concatenating based loops adds winding numbers. Distinct degrees distinguish these maps up to homotopy; this calculation does not classify arbitrary topological spaces.

Historically, Poincaré's 1895 Analysis Situs introduced the fundamental group; its original §12 explicitly names it. The CNRS transcription of Poincaré's §12, Groupe fondamental provides a direct view of this early formulation.

The fundamental group is a concept from algebraic topology, a branch of mathematics that studies topological spaces and their properties. The fundamental group provides a way to classify and distinguish different topological spaces based on their shape and structure.