For a based space , the homotopy group
is the set of based homotopy classes, with its usual concatenation operation. A map is a weak homotopy equivalence when it induces a bijection on path components and an isomorphism
for every and every basepoint . It is an n-connected map when it is bijective on for and surjective on ; equivalently, every homotopy fiber is -connected.
A CW complex is built from a discrete set of zero-cells by successively attaching -discs along maps from their boundary spheres, with the weak topology and closure-finiteness conditions. Its filtration by skeleta is the CW filtration.
For any space , form its singular simplicial set . Its geometric realization of a simplicial set is a CW complex, with one cell for each nondegenerate singular simplex, and evaluation gives
The Simplicial approximation theorem identifies based maps and homotopies from finite simplicial spheres into with singular simplices in . Consequently induces a bijection on components and isomorphisms on all homotopy groups. Thus every space admits a CW approximation.
The vanishing assumptions do not permit removal of all -cells. Take and
Then , and homology of a finite cyclic group gives . If a connected CW complex had no two-cells, attaching cells of dimension at least three would not change the fundamental group of its one-skeleton. Hence would be a free group. A weak equivalence would instead give , which is nontrivial and finite and therefore not free. No such exists.
The Bott isomorphism is multiplication by the Bott element :
Together with the suspension isomorphism and
it gives the Complex K-theory of a sphere
Let
be a CW filtration in which each quotient is a wedge of even-dimensional spheres. The six-term exact sequence in Topological K-theory, the sphere calculation, and induction give
and a short exact sequence whose new summand in is free abelian on the newly attached cells. Every such extension splits as an extension of free abelian groups, so is free, with one generator for each cell. This proves the Complex K-theory of an even-cell complex result.
The exterior product defines
For a point it is the identity. Attaching one layer of even cells gives corresponding exact sequences on the source and target; the sphere case is the suspension isomorphism, and induction with the Five lemma proves that the product map remains an isomorphism. This is the Künneth theorem for complex K-theory with an even-cell factor.
For a mapping torus , the K-theory Wang sequence of a mapping torus contains
When , exactness gives
For , the Complex K-theory of complex projective space and the K-theory Künneth isomorphism give
The factor swap interchanges and . Its invariant subgroup has the basis
It follows that the K-theory of the mapping torus of the factor swap on two complex projective planes is