Pure mapping class group of the three-punctured sphere

ID: pure-mapping-class-group-of-the-three-punctured-sphere

The pure mapping class group of the three-punctured sphere is trivial. The three simple arcs joining distinct puncture pairs form an ideal triangulation; a pure homeomorphism can be isotoped to fix these arcs, and the Alexander trick on the two complementary discs finishes the isotopy to the identity.

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