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If the displayed fiber bundle had a section $s$, its projection $p$ would satisfy $s^{\ast }{p}^{\ast }=1$. The cohomology ring of complex projective space is $\mathbb{Z}[h]/(h^4)$ with $|h|=2$. For a generator $u\in H^4(S^4;\mathbb{Z})$, write $p^{\ast }u=m{h}^2$. But $s^{\ast }h=0$ since $H^2(S^4;\mathbb{Z})=0$, giving $u=s^{\ast }{p}^{\ast }u=0$. This contradiction proves that no section exists, without needing the value of $m$.

For nonzero finite-dimensional complex vector spaces $U,V$, suppose a bilinear map never vanishes on a pair of nonzero vectors. Equivalently, each map obtained by fixing one nonzero argument is injective. If its associated map on $U\otimes V$ has image dimension $r$, projectivization gives a map to ${\mathbb{CP}}^{r-1}$ whose positive degree-two class pulls back to $x+y$. The nonzero top power $(x+y{)}^{\dim U+\dim V-2}$ in the product cohomology ring of complex projective space proves the bound. Multiplication of polynomials of bounded degree attains equality. Nonzero hypotheses matter: with a zero factor, slice conditions can be vacuous.

The standard CW complex structure on Complex projective space ${\mathbb{CP}}^3$ has one cell in each dimension $0,2,4,6$ and no other cells. Its cellular chain complex therefore has zero differentials: each boundary has an odd-dimensional target group, which is zero. The product of the usual two-cell structures on $S^2$ and $S^4$ likewise has exactly one cell in dimensions $0,2,4,6$. Thus cellular homology gives, for both spaces,The cohomology rings detect more than these additive groups. Let $c\in H^2({\mathbb{CP}}^3;\mathbb{Z})$ be the hyperplane class. The cohomology ring of complex projective space isFor the normalization, a hyperplane is Poincare dual to $c$; intersecting three generic hyperplanes gives one point with positive complex orientation, so $⟨c^3,[{\mathbb{CP}}^3]⟩=1$. Together with the computed additive groups this makes $c,c^2,c^3$ generators in their respective degrees.

Let $u$ and $v$ be the pullbacks of the orientation classes of $S^2$ and $S^4$. The Künneth theorem and naturality of the cup product givewhere $uv$ generates degree six. In particular, every degree-two class on the product has square zero, whereas $c^2\ne 0$. Any graded ring isomorphism would send $c$ to $\pm u$, contradicting this product relation. A homotopy equivalence induces an isomorphism of cohomology rings, so the spaces have isomorphic integral homology but are not homotopy equivalent.

A simply connected manifold is connected and orientable: its orientation character is a group homomorphism ${\pi }_1(X)\to \{\pm 1\}$, and this group is trivial. Choose an orientation. The Hurewicz theorem in degree one gives $H_1(X;\mathbb{Z})=0$. The universal coefficient theorem for cohomology then gives $H^1(X;\mathbb{Z})=0$ andbecause the possible $\mathrm{Ext}(H_1(X),\mathbb{Z})$ term is zero.

The homology groups are finitely generated for a closed manifold. The displayed dual group is therefore free abelian. Poincare duality identifies $H_2(X;\mathbb{Z})$ with $H^2(X;\mathbb{Z})$, so $H_2$ itself has no torsion. Since the second Betti number is one, both groups are isomorphic to $\mathbb{Z}$. This torsion argument is essential: rank one by itself would not rule out finite summands.

Again by Poincare duality, $H^3(X;\mathbb{Z})\cong H_1(X;\mathbb{Z})=0$, and $H^4(X;\mathbb{Z})\cong H_0(X;\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}$. Thus the only nonzero cohomology groups are $\mathbb{Z}$ in degrees $0,2,4$.

Let $u$ generate $H^2$. The integral intersection formis unimodular. Indeed, cap product with $[X]$ is the Poincare duality isomorphism to $H_2$, and the preceding universal-coefficient identification makes evaluation the full integral dual. Composing these isomorphisms identifies the pairing with an isomorphism $H^2\to \mathrm{Hom}(H^2,\mathbb{Z})$. In rank one its matrix must therefore be $[1]$ or $[-1]$. Consequently $⟨u^2,[X]⟩=\pm 1$, so $u^2$ generates $H^4$.

All products in degrees above four vanish. Hence the assignment of the degree-two generator giveswhich is the cohomology ring of complex projective space for ${\mathbb{CP}}^2$. If the intersection form is negative, this ring isomorphism reverses the chosen top orientation generator; preserving that additional orientation is not part of the requested ring isomorphism.

For a locally compact space, compactly supported cohomology iswith transition maps induced by enlarging supports. In ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ closed balls are cofinal; their complements retract onto $S^{n-1}$. The relative cohomology long exact sequence and contractibility of ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ giveThis is compactly supported cohomology of Euclidean space; for $n=0$ it is simply the cohomology of a point.

For an oriented $n$-manifold without boundary, Poincare duality in its compact-support form states that capping with the locally finite fundamental class gives $H_c^q(M;\mathbb{Z})\cong H_{n-q}(M;\mathbb{Z})$. If $M$ is closed, the ordinary fundamental class $[M]\in H_n(M;\mathbb{Z})$ gives $H^q(M;\mathbb{Z})\cong H_{n-q}(M;\mathbb{Z})$ and a perfect complementary-degree pairing over $\mathbb{Q}$.

Choose an oriented embedded closed ball $B$ in a connected closed oriented $M$. Collapse $M\setminus \mathrm{int}B$ to a point, identifying $B/\partial B$ with $S^n$ using its orientation. The quotient map is continuous. By excision, the fundamental class maps to the local oriented generator in $H_n(B,\partial B)$, and then to the generator of $H_n(S^n)$. Hence the collapse map has $\boxed{\mathrm{deg}f=1}$.

The reverse direction is not always possible. More generally a degree-one map $f:N\to M$ between closed oriented manifolds induces an injective map on rational cohomology: if $\alpha \ne 0$, duality supplies $\beta$ with $⟨\alpha ⌣\beta ,[M]⟩\ne 0$, andIn particular there is no degree-one map $S^2\to T^2$, since $H^1(T^2;\mathbb{Q})={\mathbb{Q}}^2$ but $H^1(S^2;\mathbb{Q})=0$. This is a counterexample to an unconditional reverse assertion.

Finally let $p:{\mathbb{CP}}^3\to S^4$ be the given bundle projection. The standard cohomology ring of complex projective space is $H^{\ast }({\mathbb{CP}}^3;\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}[h]/(h^4)$, $|h|=2$; the integral generator $u$ of $H^4(S^4)$ has $p^{\ast }u=m{h}^2$ for some integer $m$. If a section of a fiber bundle $s$ existed, $p\circ s=1$ would give $s^{\ast }{p}^{\ast }=1$ by functoriality. But $H^2(S^4)=0$, so $s^{\ast }h=0$ and $s^{\ast }(m{h}^2)=0$, contradicting $s^{\ast }{p}^{\ast }u=u\ne 0$. The facts used here are the sphere cohomology groups, the projective-space ring just stated, and multiplicative functoriality of cohomology. Thus the bundle has no section, the cohomological obstruction to a section of the twistor bundle.

The cellular homology of complex projective space gives one integral generator $[{\mathbb{CP}}^j]$ in each degree $2j$, for $0\le j\le 2$, and zero in odd degrees. Since these groups are free, the Künneth theorem gives the homology cross product basisThus the ranks in degrees $0,2,4,6,8$ are $1,2,3,2,1$, respectively, and every other integral homology group vanishes.

Let $h$ be the normalized hyperplane class, with $⟨h^2,[{\mathbb{CP}}^2]⟩=1$, and write $a=p_1^{\ast }h$, $b=p_2^{\ast }h$. The cohomology ring of complex projective space and the Künneth theorem give $H^{\ast }({\mathbb{CP}}^2\times {\mathbb{CP}}^2;\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}[a,b]/(a^3,b^3)$. If $d$ is the diagonal embedding, then $d^{\ast }a=d^{\ast }b=h$. Hence each of $a^2,ab,b^2$ evaluates as one on the diagonal's fundamental class. These three classes are dual to the three degree-four product generators, so the diagonal class of complex projective space givesEquivalently its Poincare dual is $a^2+ab+b^2$. The signs are positive with the complex and product orientations.

For finite-dimensional Complex projective space ${\mathbb{CP}}^r$, use the filtration by its linear projective subspaces. The difference ${\mathbb{CP}}^j\setminus {\mathbb{CP}}^{j-1}$ is ${\mathbb{C}}^j$, so there is one topological cell in every even dimension $0,2,\dots ,2r$, and none in odd dimensions. Every cellular boundary vanishes for degree reasons. The integral cohomology is therefore $\mathbb{Z}$ in those even degrees and zero elsewhere.

For the cohomology ring, let $x\in H^2({\mathbb{CP}}^r;\mathbb{Z})$ be the Poincare dual of a projective hyperplane, using the complex orientation. Generic hyperplanes meet transversely, and a collection of $j$ of them intersects in ${\mathbb{CP}}^{r-j}$. The geometric interpretation of the cup product identifies $x^j$ with the dual of that intersection. Restricting to a linear ${\mathbb{CP}}^j$, the $j$ hyperplanes meet in one point, with positive sign because the transverse normal directions are complex lines. HenceThus $x^j$ is a primitive generator in degree $2j$, not merely a nonzero multiple. There are no classes beyond degree $2r$, soThe point case $r=0$ has ring $\mathbb{Z}$. Taking the union of the finite projective spaces gives $H^{\ast }({\mathbb{CP}}^{\infty };\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}[x]$, since each fixed cohomological degree stabilizes. This proves the cohomology ring of complex projective space computation.

For the rank bound for a nonsingular complex bilinear map, write $a={\dim }_{\mathbb{C}}U$, $b={\dim }_{\mathbb{C}}V$, $R=\mathrm{im}\varphi$, and $s={\dim }_{\mathbb{C}}R$. Assume $a,b\ge 1$. Injectivity with either nonzero factor fixed implies $\varphi (u\otimes v)\ne 0$ whenever $u,v\ne 0$. Thereforeis well defined and continuous. Scaling either vector only scales the output, and in local projective charts the formula is given by bilinear coordinates with no simultaneous zero. Let $h$ be the target's degree-two generator and $x,y$ the pullbacks of the two factor generators. The Künneth theorem givesFixing $[v]$ or $[u]$ makes $F$ a projective linear embedding induced by an injective linear map. Such an embedding pulls back the hyperplane class to the factor's hyperplane class. Since the two restrictions determine $H^2$ of the product, $F^{\ast }h=x+y$, with the generator of a point factor interpreted as zero.

Put $d=a+b-2$. In the source cohomology ring, every term in $(x+y{)}^d$ vanishes except the one with exponents $a-1,b-1$, andThe binomial coefficient is a positive integer and the final monomial generates the top integral cohomology. If $s\le d$, the class $h^d$ in ${\mathbb{CP}}^{s-1}$ would be zero. This contradiction provesWhen $a=b=1$, the nonzero pure-tensor image already gives $s\ge 1$. A positivity convention is genuinely necessary: if $U=0$, $V={\mathbb{C}}^2$, and $W=0$, all restrictions to the zero tensor subspaces are injective, but the literal bound would read $0\ge 1$. The displayed theorem is therefore the nonzero-factor version. If a nonzero factor is infinite-dimensional, either factor restriction already bounds the image dimension below by that factor dimension; the sum of two positive cardinal dimensions, with at least one infinite, is their maximum, giving the corresponding cardinal bound.

Use the standard orientations on the three spheres and the complex orientation on Complex projective space. Let $h\in H^2({\mathbb{CP}}^3;\mathbb{Z})$ satisfy $⟨h^3,[{\mathbb{CP}}^3]⟩=1$. The cohomology ring of complex projective space is $\mathbb{Z}[h]/(h^4)$. The Künneth theorem givesWrite the induced map on cohomology as $f^{\ast }h=pa+qb+rc$ with integers $p,q,r$. Naturality and graded commutativity of the cup product giveThe mapping degree is therefore $d=6pqr$. This is the factorial degree obstruction for products of two-spheres. Every positive value is a positive multiple of six, so the least possible positive degree is at least $6$.

To attain it, identify each oriented sphere with ${\mathbb{CP}}^1$. Send three projective linear forms to the coefficients of their product:whereNo product of nonzero linear forms is the zero polynomial. Rescaling any factor rescales all coefficients by the same nonzero scalar. The map is therefore well-defined and is a holomorphic map on the products of projective charts.

Choose a homogeneous cubic with three distinct roots, all in an affine chart. Its preimages are exactly the $3!=6$ orderings of its three projective linear factors. In root coordinates, the derivative of the elementary-symmetric coefficient map has determinant equal, up to sign, to the Vandermonde determinant, the product of the three pairwise root differences. This is nonzero for distinct roots, so all six preimages are regular. A nonsingular complex-linear derivative preserves the underlying real orientation, since its real determinant is the squared absolute value of its complex determinant. Each preimage consequently contributes $+1$ to the mapping degree. HenceThis polynomial multiplication map to complex projective space provides the requested example without assuming that a prescribed cohomology homomorphism is realizable by a continuous map.

Let $q:{\mathbb{CP}}^8\to Q$ collapse the indicated Complex projective space. Write $x\in H^2({\mathbb{CP}}^8;\mathbb{Z})$ for the positive generator, so the cohomology ring of complex projective space is $\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x^9)$. The inclusion of ${\mathbb{CP}}^3$ sends $x$ to its corresponding generator and is an isomorphism in degrees $0,2,4,6$.

The CW complex structure makes the inclusion a cofibration, so the positive-degree cohomology of $Q$ identifies with the relative cohomology of the pair. Its long exact sequence shows that $q^{\ast }$ is injective in positive degrees, with image the additive subgroup generated by $x^4,x^5,x^6,x^7,x^8$. Equivalently, the surviving cellular cochain complex has one copy of $\mathbb{Z}$ in each of degrees $8,10,12,14,16$ and zero differential. Let $u_i$ denote the class with $q^{\ast }{u}_i=x^i$, for $4\le i\le 8$.

Naturality of the cup product, together with the injectivity of $q^{\ast }$, now determines all multiplication:Every other product of positive-degree basis elements is zero. Indeed, their degrees exceed $16$. In particular, the surviving classes do not form a polynomial algebra on a degree-eight generator: the independent classes in degrees $10,12,14$ must also be retained. This is an instance of the cohomology ring of a collapsed projective subspace.

Euler number and self-intersection. Orient the rank-two normal bundle ${\nu }_S$ by the orientations of $S$ and $M$: the ordered tangent and normal spaces have the ambient orientation. Choose a smooth normal section $s$ transverse to the zero section. Its zeros are isolated, and their signed number is the evaluation $⟨e({\nu }_S),[S]⟩$ of the Euler class on the fundamental class. Scale the section sufficiently small to lie in a tubular neighborhood. Its graph is a push-off $S^{\prime }$ isotopic to $S$.

The intersections of $S$ with $S^{\prime }$ occur exactly at the zeros of $s$. In a positively oriented local splitting $TS\oplus {\nu }_S$, the basis formed from the tangent spaces to $S$ and to the graph has block matrixIts determinant is $\det Ds$, so the local intersection sign is precisely the local zero index of the section. Summing proves the Euler number equals self-intersection identity

The conic. The given map is the degree-two Veronese map $[u:v]\mapsto [u^2:uv:v^2]$ followed by the projective linear transformationThe Veronese map is injective with nonvanishing differential: on the chart $u\ne 0$ its coordinates are $[1:t:t^2]$, and on $v\ne 0$ they are $[s^2:s:1]$. It is therefore a smooth embedding, and $S$ is a smooth plane conic diffeomorphic to ${\mathbb{CP}}^1\cong S^2$. Its equation in the given coordinates is $z_0^2-z_2^2=4z_1^2$.

Let $L$ be a projective line, with its complex orientation. The cohomology ring of complex projective space gives $[L]\cdot [L]=1$ in ${\mathbb{CP}}^2$. The hyperplane $z_1=0$ meets $S$ at $[u:v]=[1:0]$ and $[0:1]$. The zeros of $uv$ are simple in the respective local coordinates, and complex intersections have positive signs. Hence $[S]\cdot [L]=2$, so $[S]=2[L]$. The self-intersection number and the normal Euler class arewhere $u\in H^2(S^2;\mathbb{Z})$ has $⟨u,[S^2]⟩=1$.

The boundary of the tubular neighborhood. Write $N=\nu (S)$ for the closed disk tubular neighborhood and $E=\partial N$ for its boundary. This distinguishes the disk neighborhood $N$ from the vector normal bundle ${\nu }_S$. The space $E$ is the oriented circle bundle of ${\nu }_S$, with Euler class $4u$. The Gysin sequence containsThe middle map is multiplication by four, yielding $H^1(E;\mathbb{Z})=0$ and $H^2(E;\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}/4$. The same Gysin sequence gives $H^0(E;\mathbb{Z})=H^3(E;\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}$. The total space is a closed connected oriented three-manifold, so Poincare duality gives

The exterior. Work first with $W={\mathbb{CP}}^2\setminus \mathrm{int}N$. A collar neighborhood of $\partial W$ shows that its interior, the requested ${\mathbb{CP}}^2\setminus N$, has the same homotopy equivalence type: push the boundary a small positive distance into the collar. The Excision theorem and Thom isomorphism theorem identifyOnly degrees two and four are nonzero, each a copy of $\mathbb{Z}$.

In degree four the map $H_4({\mathbb{CP}}^2;\mathbb{Z})\to H_4(N,E;\mathbb{Z})$ sends the ambient fundamental class to the relative fundamental class of $N$. Under the Thom isomorphism theorem this becomes $[S]$. Thus this map is multiplication by one with compatible orientations. The long exact sequence in homology givesso $H_4(W)=H_3(W)=0$.

In degree two, the Thom isomorphism theorem identifies the map $H_2({\mathbb{CP}}^2)\to H_0(S^2)$ with intersection against $[S]$. A projective line intersects the conic twice, so this map is multiplication by two. The long exact sequence in homology isIt yields $H_2(W)=0$ and $H_1(W)=\mathbb{Z}/2$. In degree zero the relative groups vanish, so $H_0(W)\cong H_0({\mathbb{CP}}^2)\cong \mathbb{Z}$. This computes the homology of the complement of a smooth conic:The normal Euler number $4$, the degree-two intersection map and the degree-four restriction map $1$ play different roles; distinguishing them explains why the boundary has first homology $\mathbb{Z}/4$ while the exterior has first homology $\mathbb{Z}/2$.

The assertion is true. The standard filtration ${\mathbb{CP}}^0\subset \cdots \subset {\mathbb{CP}}^n$ gives one cell in each dimension $0,2,\dots ,2n$. There are no odd-dimensional cells, so all cellular differentials vanish. The cellular homology theorem and the universal coefficient theorem for cohomology give one copy of $\mathbb{Z}$ in each even degree from zero to $2n$, and zero in every other degree.

Let $x$ be the Poincare dual of a projective hyperplane, with the complex orientation. It has degree two and evaluates to $+1$ on a complex projective line, so it is the positive generator of $H^2$. We use the intersection interpretation of the cup product: the product of duals of oriented submanifolds in transverse position is the dual of their oriented intersection. Distinct transverse complex hyperplanes intersect in ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-j}$ after $j$ intersections, with positive complex orientation. Thus $x^j$ is the dual of that linear subspace.

Pairing $x^j$ with a transverse linear ${\mathbb{CP}}^j$ gives one positively oriented intersection point. Therefore $x^j$ is a primitive generator of $H^{2j}$, for every $0\le j\le n$. There is no cohomology above dimension $2n$, so $x^{n+1}=0$. These facts show that the surjective graded ring map from $\mathbb{Z}[x]$ has exactly the indicated kernel:This proves the cohomology ring of complex projective space, rather than only its additive groups. For $n=0$ it is $\mathbb{Z}$, with $x=0$.

The quaternionic projective space ${\mathbb{HP}}^n$ is the space of one-dimensional right quaternion subspaces of ${\mathbb{H}}^{n+1}$. Equivalently it is the quotient of the unit sphere $S^{4n+3}$ by simultaneous right multiplication by unit quaternions. Its coordinate filtration has one open cell ${\mathbb{H}}^k\cong {\mathbb{R}}^{4k}$ in each dimension $4k$, for $0\le k\le n$. Hence its cellular cohomology is $\mathbb{Z}$ in those dimensions and zero otherwise.

Let $\mathcal{H}$ be the quaternionic tautological line bundle. Its unit sphere bundle is $S^{4n+3}\to {\mathbb{HP}}^n$, with fibre $S^3$. The Gysin sequence of a sphere bundle shows that multiplication by its Euler class $e\in H^4$ is an isomorphism from $H^{4k}$ to $H^{4k+4}$ for $k<n$. Choose the generator $u=-e$. Its powers generate every nonzero positive degree, giving the cohomology ring of quaternionic projective spaceThis also accounts for $n=0$.

First take $n=2$. Under the coordinate inclusion $i:{\mathbb{CP}}^2\to {\mathbb{HP}}^2$, the pulled-back quaternionic line is the quaternionic extension of the complex tautological line $L$. As a complex rank-two bundle it is $L\oplus \overline{L}$: a transition scalar $c\in \mathbb{C}$ acts on the two complex coordinates of a quaternion by $c$ and $\overline{c}$. Put $x=c_1(L^{\ast })$, the degree-two generator of the cohomology ring of complex projective space. The Whitney sum formula for Chern classes givesHere the Euler class of a complex vector bundle is its top Chern class, using the complex orientation. In particular this degree-four pullback has coefficient one; it is not a multiple of larger absolute value. The compatible tautological bundles on the projective filtrations give the same equality for every $n$, and multiplicativity then determines the whole ring map:It is zero whenever $2k>n$. These facts are the complex inclusion into quaternionic projective space.

For an odd prime $p$, the Steenrod reduced powers are natural stable cohomology operationsThey satisfy $P^0=1$, the Cartan formula, $P^{i}a=0$ when $2i>|a|$, and $P^{i}a=a^p$ when $|a|=2i$. In particular, on ${\mathbb{CP}}^{\infty }$ one has $P^{1}x=x^p$ and $P^{i}x=0$ for $i>1$. The Cartan formula and the binomial theorem givePass to the infinite projective spaces, where $i^{\ast }:H^{\ast }({\mathbb{HP}}^{\infty };{\mathbb{F}}_p)\to H^{\ast }({\mathbb{CP}}^{\infty };{\mathbb{F}}_p)$, $u\mapsto x^2$, is injective. The equality just obtained determines the Steenrod powers on quaternionic projective space; restricting to the finite spaces giveswith coefficients modulo $p$ and powers above $n$ set to zero. In particular $P^{1}u=2u^{(p+1)/2}$, $P^{2}u=u^p$, and $P^{i}u=0$ for $i>2$. The infinite-space argument matters: the finite inclusion cannot detect those degrees for which $x^{2k}=0$.

Finally put $Q={\mathbb{HP}}^{15}/{\mathbb{HP}}^{12}$ and $S={\Sigma }^{48}{\mathbb{HP}}^3$. Both have reduced cohomology $\mathbb{Z}$ in degrees $52,56,60$ and zero otherwise. Choose integral generators $a_{13},a_{14},a_{15}$ for $Q$ whose pullbacks under the quotient map are $u^{13},u^{14},u^{15}$, and suspended integral generators $b_1,b_2,b_3$ for $S$ from $u,u^2,u^3$.

Use $p=5$. Naturality for the quotient and the formula above giveStability under the suspension isomorphism instead givesAny homotopy equivalence $h:Q\to S$ would induce isomorphisms on the rank-one integral groups, so $h^{\ast }{b}_1=\epsilon a_{13}$ and $h^{\ast }{b}_3=\delta a_{15}$ with $\epsilon ,\delta \in \{1,-1\}$. Reducing modulo five and commuting $h^{\ast }$ with $P^1$ would require $\epsilon =2\delta$ in ${\mathbb{F}}_5$. Neither $1$ nor $-1$ equals $2$ or $-2$ modulo five. ThereforeThe essential point is that integral generator signs constrain Steenrod comparisons. Arbitrary changes of basis over ${\mathbb{F}}_5$ could rescale these two nonzero coefficients into agreement; a genuine equivalence must also preserve the integral lattices, where only the two signs are available.

Use ${\mathbb{F}}_2$ coefficients throughout. Write $h=c_1(\mathcal{O}(1))\mathrm{mod}2$ on Complex projective space and $a=w_1({\gamma }_d)$ on Real projective space. We use the standard cohomology ring of complex projective space ${\mathbb{F}}_2[h]/(h^{d+1})$, with $|h|=2$, and the real projective calculation from the preceding solution. The complex projective calculation follows, for example, from its one cell in each even dimension together with the fact that transverse projective hyperplanes represent the powers of $h$; $d$ such hyperplanes have one intersection point.

For the standard inclusion $i:{\mathbb{RP}}^d\hookrightarrow {\mathbb{CP}}^d$, the restricted complex tautological line is ${\gamma }_d{\otimes }_{\mathbb{R}}\mathbb{C}$. As a real vector bundle it is ${\gamma }_d\oplus {\gamma }_d$, whose total Stiefel–Whitney class is $(1+a{)}^2=1+a^2$. The Stiefel–Whitney class of the underlying real bundle of a complex line identifies its degree-two class with its First Chern class reduced modulo two. Passing to the dual line defining $h$ changes only a sign, which disappears modulo two. Thus mod-two restriction from complex to real projective space gives $i^{\ast }h=a^2$. In particular the answer for dimension two is the ring mapIt sends $1$ to $1$, is an isomorphism in degree two, and sends $h^2$ to zero.

Now assume $k\ge 1$ and put $M={\mathbb{CP}}^{2k}$, $N={\mathbb{RP}}^{2k}$, $U=M\setminus N$, with inclusions $i:N\hookrightarrow M$ and $j:U\hookrightarrow M$. The real dimensions are $4k$ and $2k$, respectively. A tubular neighborhood and excision identify the cohomology of $(M,U)$ with that of the normal disk bundle relative to its sphere bundle. Every real normal bundle is oriented over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$, so the Thom isomorphism theorem givesUnder this identification the relative-to-absolute map is the cohomological Gysin map of an embedding $i_{!}$. The exact sequence of the pair is thereforeHere $\delta$ denotes the ordinary connecting homomorphism followed by the inverse of the isomorphism supplied by the Thom isomorphism theorem.

To compute $i_{!}$, use mod-two Poincare duality and its evaluation formulaFor $0\le r\le k$, take $b=a^{2r}$ and $z=h^{k-r}$. The right side is $⟨a^{2k},[N{]}_2⟩=1$. Since the target group is generated by $h^{k+r}$ and $⟨h^{2k},[M{]}_2⟩=1$, this provesOdd-degree classes have zero image because $M$ has no odd-degree cohomology. Exactness now givesFor precision, below degree $2k-1$ the restriction map is an isomorphism. In degree $2k-1$ the next map is $i_{!}:H^0(N)\to H^{2k}(M)$, an isomorphism, so the complement group is zero. In even degrees $2k+2r$, $0\le r<k$, the preceding $i_{!}$ is an isomorphism and the following odd-degree $i_{!}$ is zero; consequently $\delta :H^{2k+2r}(U)\to H^{2r+1}(N)$ is an isomorphism. The intervening odd groups and the top group $H^{4k}(U)$ vanish.

It remains to establish multiplication. Put $x=j^{\ast }h$. Since $h^k=i_{!}1$, exactness gives $x^k=0$. Choose $y\in H^{2k}(U)$ with $\delta y=a$, which is possible by the just-computed isomorphism. Naturality of the relative cup product, and the module property of the Thom isomorphism theorem, giveThus $\delta (x^{r}y)=a^{2r+1}$ for $0\le r<k$. Each class $x^{r}y$ is nonzero and generates its upper-half group, while $1,x,\dots ,x^{k-1}$ generate the lower-half groups. Also $y^2=0$ because $H^{4k}(U)=0$. These classes account for every group, so there are no further relations:By the field-coefficient Künneth theorem this is precisely the cohomology ring of ${\mathbb{CP}}^{k-1}\times S^{2k}$. For $k=1$ the relation $x=0$ leaves the sphere's ring. The calculation identifies rings and does not claim a homotopy equivalence of the spaces; $k=0$ is outside the expression involving ${\mathbb{CP}}^{k-1}$.

For the First Chern class identity, use finite-dimensional classifying maps. A complex line bundle on a compact Hausdorff space embeds in a finite-dimensional trivial vector bundle, so it is a pullback vector bundle of the tautological bundle on some Complex projective space. For the two complex line bundles, the universal tensor product of vector bundles is classified by the mapIts restriction to either factor pulls the tautological bundle back to the tautological bundle on that factor. The degree-two cohomology of the product is the direct sum of the degree-two cohomology of its factors, so these two restrictions determine its First Chern class. Pulling back to $X$ provesThis proves the integral identity, including possible torsion elements in the cohomology of $X$; an argument using only curvature forms would not detect those torsion elements.

The splitting principle for complex vector bundles says that for a vector bundle $E\to X$ there is an iterated projective bundle $p:F(E)\to X$ for which $p^{\ast }$ is injective on integral cohomology, and $p^{\ast }E$ is a direct sum of complex line bundles. The same assertion holds with rational coefficients, and a common such space can split any finite collection of vector bundles. The injectivity follows at each stage from the projective bundle formula for complex vector bundles; a Hermitian metric splits the resulting filtration into a direct sum.

Write $x_i=c_1(L_i)$ for the Chern roots of the pulled-back vector bundle. Define the degree-$2j$ component of its Chern character byThe Fundamental theorem of symmetric polynomials expresses each power-sum symmetric polynomial ${\sum }_i{x}_i^j$ uniquely as an integral polynomial in the elementary symmetric polynomials, which are the Chern classes of $E$. Thus the definition makes sense on $X$ itself, without choosing actual Chern roots there. On a compact Hausdorff space, each vector bundle is classified by a finite-dimensional Grassmannian; its high-degree Chern character components therefore vanish. Hence this defines a class in the direct sum $H^{2\ast }(X;\mathbb{Q})$ even if $X$ has no finite dimension. On more general spaces an infinite Chern character is instead interpreted in the product of the even-degree cohomology groups.

On a common splitting space, the Chern roots of a direct sum are the combined root lists, whereas the First Chern class identity makes the Chern roots of a tensor product of vector bundles the pairwise sums $x_i+y_j$. ConsequentlyThe injectivity in the splitting principle for complex vector bundles descends both identities to $X$. Additivity extends the Chern character to the Grothendieck group by $\mathrm{ch}([E]-[F])=\mathrm{ch}(E)-\mathrm{ch}(F)$. Multiplicativity and $\mathrm{ch}(1)=1$ then show that the Chern character is a unital ring homomorphism.

For Complex K-theory of complex projective space, let $\gamma$ be the tautological bundle, put $t=1-[\gamma ]$, and set $h=-c_1(\gamma )$. The cohomology ring of complex projective space is $\mathbb{Z}[h]/(h^{n+1})$. The CW filtration gives a cofibrationThe K-theory six-term exact sequence and Complex K-theory of a sphere give, inductively,Here $b_n$ is the image of a Bott element from $S^{2n}$, normalized so that $\mathrm{ch}(b_n)=h^n$. This normalization follows from the multiplicative form of Bott periodicity: the Chern character of the degree-two Bott element is an integral generator, and multiplication yields the top-degree generator on $S^{2n}$. In particular, the abelian group $K^0({\mathbb{CP}}^n)$ is a free abelian group of rank $n+1$.

Assume inductively that $1,t,\dots ,t^{n-1}$ form an integral basis on ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-1}$. Their lifts, together with $b_n$, form an integral basis on ${\mathbb{CP}}^n$. Sincethe Chern characters of this basis are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$: their first nonzero degrees are $0,2,\dots ,2n$. Thus the Chern character is injective on $K^0({\mathbb{CP}}^n)$. By induction $t^n$ restricts to zero on ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-1}$, so $t^n=a{b}_n$ for an integer $a$. Comparing Chern characters gives $a=1$. Also $\mathrm{ch}(t^{n+1})=0$, so $t^{n+1}=0$. This proves the integral answer, rather than merely its rationalization:The induction begins with ${\mathbb{CP}}^0$ a point and $t=0$.

Let $E$ have rank $r\ge 1$, let $p:\mathbb{P}(E)\to X$ be its projectivization of a real vector bundle, and let $\lambda \subset p^{\ast }E$ be its tautological bundle. Put $u=w_1(\lambda )\in H^1(\mathbb{P}(E);{\mathbb{F}}_2)$. The Projective bundle definition of Stiefel–Whitney classes starts from the isomorphismIn particular, $p^{\ast }$ is injective. Expand $u^r$ uniquely in this basis. The coefficients define the Stiefel–Whitney classes through the relationSet $w_0(E)=1$ and $w_i(E)=0$ for $i>r$; for a rank-zero vector bundle set $w(E)=1$. Uniqueness also proves naturality of the Stiefel–Whitney classes under a pullback vector bundle.

To prove the Whitney product formula for Stiefel–Whitney classes, apply the splitting principle for real vector bundles simultaneously to $E$ and $E^{\prime }$. Its injective pullback on mod-two cohomology follows by iterating the Projective bundle definition of Stiefel–Whitney classes. It suffices to compute for a split vector bundle $E={⨁}_{i=1}^r{L}_i$. Put $x_i=w_1(L_i)$.