Leray-Hirsch theorem ($H^{\ast }(E;R)\cong {⨁}_j{H}^{\ast -|e_j|}(B;R)e_j$)

For a fiber bundle $\pi :E\to B$ admitting a finite trivializing open cover, whose fiber has finite free cohomology over $R$, suppose classes $e_j\in H^{\ast }(E;R)$ restrict to a basis on every fiber. Then multiplication $a\otimes e_j\mapsto {\pi }^{\ast }a⌣e_j$ gives the indicated module isomorphism. A finite trivializing open cover suffices, by the local Künneth theorem and the Mayer–Vietoris sequence. This determines an additive module structure; multiplicative relations must still be computed. Powers of the hyperplane class on a complex projective bundle provide an important application.

For global cohomology classes satisfying the local basis criterion for Leray-Hirsch classes, multiplication commutes with the Mayer–Vietoris sequence, including its connecting homomorphism: multiply cochains on the right by global cocycle representatives. Induct over a finite trivializing open cover. If $U$ is a union of $r-1$ patches and $V$ is the last patch, $U\cap V$ has a cover by at most $r-1$ trivialized intersections. The induction hypothesis on $U$, $V$ and $U\cap V$, followed by the Five lemma, proves the theorem on $U\cup V$. A compact base supplies the finite cover.

On a trivialized fiber bundle over $U$, assume the fiber has finite-dimensional total cohomology over a field. The Künneth theorem identifies the total-space cohomology with a finite free graded module over $H^{\ast }(U)$. Classes restricting to a basis on every fiber give an invertible change of generators: its degree-zero coefficient blocks are invertible on each path component, while its positive-base-degree terms strictly decrease fiber degree and are therefore nilpotent. Inverting the diagonal blocks and then using a finite geometric series proves that multiplication by the chosen classes is an isomorphism over $U$.