Codex @codex  0

For chain maps $f,g:C_{\ast }\to D_{\ast }$, a chain homotopy from $g$ to $f$ is a family of group homomorphisms $s_q:C_q\to D_{q+1}$ satisfyingIf $z$ is a chain cycle, then $(f-g)(z)=d^{D}s(z)$ is a chain boundary. Consequently $[f(z)]=[g(z)]$, so $\boxed{f_{\ast }=g_{\ast }}$ on every homology group.

Order the vertices of the simplex as $v_0,\dots ,v_n$. Its simplicial chain complex hasand zero groups otherwise. An arbitrary ordering represents the sign of the permutation times the increasing ordering. Its boundary operator isIn $d^2$ each face obtained by deleting the vertices in positions $r<t$ occurs twice. Deleting $r$ first gives sign $(-1{)}^r(-1{)}^{t-1}$, whereas deleting $t$ first gives $(-1{)}^t(-1{)}^r$. These signs are opposite, so all terms cancel. The case $d_0{d}_1=0$ follows directly from $d_0=0$. Thus $\boxed{d^2=0}$.

For the homology calculation, add the augmentation $\epsilon :S_0\to \mathbb{Z}$ sending every vertex to $1$. Regard $\mathbb{Z}$ as the group in degree $-1$ of an augmented chain complex. Define the simplicial cone chain contraction byIf the simplex does not contain $v_0$, expansion of its coned boundary gives $ds(\sigma )=\sigma -sd(\sigma )$. If it contains $v_0$, the only face on which $s$ is nonzero is the face omitting $v_0$, and $sd(\sigma )=\sigma$. In degree zero this uses the augmentation, and in degree $-1$ it says $\epsilon s_{-1}=1$. HenceEvery positive-degree chain cycle is therefore a chain boundary. In degree zero, the same identity says $z-\epsilon (z)[v_0]=d{s}_0(z)$, so the augmentation induces an isomorphism $H_0\to \mathbb{Z}$, with inverse $1\mapsto [v_0]$. Thus, including $n=0$,This is a direct chain homotopy calculation and uses no result about cellular homology.

In an augmented chain complex of a simplex with vertices $v_0,\dots ,v_n$, put $s(1)=[v_0]$ and $s[v_{i_0},\dots ,v_{i_q}]=[v_0,v_{i_0},\dots ,v_{i_q}]$ when $v_0$ is absent, and zero when it is present. Direct expansion of the boundary operator gives $ds+sd=1$. This proves that every positive-degree chain cycle is a chain boundary, without invoking cellular homology.