Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 1 21F a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
The map is the quotient of by integer translations, andGiven a based loop at , the path lifting theorem gives a unique lift beginning at . Its endpoint lies in . The homotopy lifting property shows that this endpoint depends only on , so defineLifting a concatenation after translating the second lift by the endpoint of the first shows that is a group homomorphism. It is surjective because, for every , the path is a loop whose lift ends at . If a lift ends at zero, it is a loop in the simply connected space and contracts there; projecting the contraction proves that its original loop is null-homotopic. Thus is injective, and the lift-endpoint description of the fundamental group of the torus gives
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 1 21G Solution Created 2026-09-23 Updated 2026-09-25
Given group homomorphisms and , their amalgamated free product is a group with maps and satisfying , such that every pair , satisfying factors through a unique homomorphism .
The Seifert-van Kampen theorem says that if , where , and are open and path-connected and , then the inclusion maps induce
Here is a direct proof of the requested generation statement. For a based loop in , the Lebesgue number lemma supplies a subdivisionsuch that every arc lies in one . Combine adjacent arcs assigned to the same set, so each transition point lies in . Since the intersection is path-connected, choose a path in it from to , taking constant. Thenis a loop in . In the product of their classes, each cancels by path reversal, leaving . Thus the two inclusion images generate , as summarized by generation of a fundamental group by two open sets.
Now let be the standard generators in the fundamental group of the torus. A Möbius band retracts to a core circle, while its boundary traverses that core twice. If and denote the core classes of the two attached bands, the Seifert-van Kampen theorem gives
The two attaching classes and commute. Their exponent matrix has determinantso they form a basis of , withSubstituting and eliminates and leaves the two-generator one-relator presentationThis is the calculation in two Möbius bands attached to a torus.
Finally send to and to in the symmetric group . Both squares are the identity, so the relator is satisfied, and these transpositions generate . We obtain a surjective group homomorphism from onto the nonabelian group . Therefore is nonabelian.