Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/iii/paper-141/1/b/solution

The generators are the alpha-compressing disks, equivalently the four bounded regions. Each beta curve supplies the relator read from its signed intersections with the alpha curves. Since the basepoint region has generator , the presentation is
The relations say . Eliminating leaves , the standard two-generator presentation of the trefoil knot group, which checks the region conventions.

New to topics? Read the docs here!