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Let $q:S^2\to X$ identify the two points to $p$. Take disjoint small open disks around the original points and let $U$ be their image; $U$ is a contractible wedge of two disks. Let $V=X\setminus \{p\}$, which is homeomorphic to a sphere with two punctures and retracts onto a circle. Then $U\cap V$ consists of two punctured disks, each retracting onto a circle.

In the Mayer–Vietoris sequence, the map $H_1(U\cap V)={\mathbb{Z}}^2\to H_1(U)\oplus H_1(V)=\mathbb{Z}$ has rank one and is surjective: both annular loops map to generators, with a possible orientation sign. Its kernel is $\mathbb{Z}$, so $H_2(X)=\mathbb{Z}$. At degree zero the map ${\mathbb{Z}}^2\to \mathbb{Z}\oplus \mathbb{Z}$ is $(a,b)\mapsto (a+b,-a-b)$, with rank-one kernel. The preceding degree-one map is surjective, so exactness gives $H_1(X)=\mathbb{Z}$. Since $X$ is connected and both pieces have no higher homology,This illustrates homology after identifying two points on a sphere.

False. Take $M={\mathbb{CP}}^2\#{\mathbb{CP}}^2$ and $N=S^2\times S^2$, with their standard product and connected-sum orientations. They are closed simply connected four-manifolds. For the connected sum, removing a four-ball leaves the fundamental group unchanged, and the Seifert-van Kampen theorem across the separating three-sphere preserves simple connectivity. The Mayer–Vietoris sequence computes integral cohomology $\mathbb{Z},{\mathbb{Z}}^2,\mathbb{Z}$ in degrees zero, two and four, and zero in other degrees. The Künneth theorem gives the same groups for $S^2\times S^2$. Thus their Betti numbers agree and all their integral cohomology is torsion-free.

Their cohomology rings nevertheless differ. In $M$, let $u,v$ come from the two projective summands and let $z$ generate degree four. The cohomology ring of the connected sum of two complex projective planes hasThese relations follow by using cycles in the separate summands and the degree-one pinch projections onto them. In $N$, the sphere-factor generators $x,y$ satisfyConsequently every degree-two class of $N$ has squarean even multiple of the top generator, whereas $u^2$ in $M$ is a primitive generator. An integral graded-ring isomorphism cannot change this property, since it sends a generator of $H^4$ to its positive or negative. A homotopy equivalence induces a graded-ring isomorphism, so none exists. Equivalently, their intersection forms are $\mathrm{diag}(1,1)$ and $\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ 1& 0\end{array}\right)$, an odd form and an even form respectively.

True: every integer occurs. The simple-connectivity assumptions in parts 1 and 2 are local to those statements and are not imposed here. For a connected closed oriented four-manifold, Poincare duality givessince $b_3=b_1$. This expression has no fixed sign or parity.

Use $\chi ({\mathbb{CP}}^2)=3$, from its three even-dimensional cells, and $\chi (S^1\times S^3)=0$, by Euler characteristic of a product. The Euler characteristic of a connected sum in dimension four isIt follows either by Mayer–Vietoris sequence after deleting balls, or by the intermediate-degree cohomology splitting and the single top and bottom generators. Therefore a connected sum of $r$ projective planes and $s$ copies of $S^1\times S^3$ hasGiven an integer $h$, choose an integer $s\ge \max \{0,\lceil (2-h)/2\rceil \}$ and put $r=h-2+2s\ge 0$. This produces a connected closed oriented four-manifold of Euler characteristic $h$. When $r=s=0$, use $S^4$. ThusIf simple connectivity were added, the possible values would instead satisfy $\chi =2+b_2\ge 2$. This distinction is recorded in Euler characteristics of closed oriented four-manifolds.

Use integral homology groups. The sphere is $A=S^3$; each disk meets $A$ in its boundary circle, while $B\cap C=\{0\}$. In particular, the two disks also meet away from the sphere. These spaces have compatible triangulations, so the Mayer–Vietoris sequence applies to their unions as subcomplexes; equivalently use small regular open neighborhoods with the same homotopy types.

First let $Y=A\cup B$. Its intersection is $A\cap B=S^1$, and $B$ is contractible. The Mayer–Vietoris sequence givesFor example, the degree-two portion is $0\to H_2(Y)\to H_1(S^1)\to 0$, and the map from $H_0(S^1)$ into $H_0(A)\oplus H_0(B)$ is injective.

Now $Y\cap C=\partial C\bigsqcup \{0\}\simeq S^1\bigsqcup \{\text{point}\}$. It has $H_1=\mathbb{Z}$ and $H_0={\mathbb{Z}}^2$. Exactness gives $H_3(X)=H_3(Y)=\mathbb{Z}$ andThis sequence splits: lift a generator of the quotient $\mathbb{Z}$ and extend its lift by integer multiples. Hence $H_2(X)={\mathbb{Z}}^2$. In degree one the sequence becomesThe middle map has kernel generated by $(1,-1)$ and cokernel $\mathbb{Z}$. There are no higher groups, either by the same sequence or by the three-dimensional triangulation. Thus the homology of two disks meeting inside a sphere givesThe first-homology generator records a path from the sphere to the common interior point through one disk and back through the other; omitting that interior intersection would incorrectly remove this generator.

The torus map acts on $H_1(T^2;\mathbb{Z})$ byIts determinant is one, so it is an orientation-preserving homeomorphism and acts as the identity on both $H_0(T^2)$ and $H_2(T^2)$.

To calculate the homology of its mapping torus, cover the time circle by two arcs. Each inverse image has the homotopy type of $T^2$, while their intersection has two components of that homotopy type. The map in the Mayer–Vietoris sequence can be writtenAdding the output coordinates and using the input coordinate $a+b$ separates an identity map from $f_{\ast }-I$. Canceling the identity summands gives the Wang sequence, and henceIn degree one,Its image and kernel are both generated by $(1,-1)$; its cokernel is $\mathbb{Z}$ since this image is primitive. Its Smith normal form is $\mathrm{diag}(1,0)$, so its torsion subgroup is zero. On the other two nonzero homology groups of the torus, $f_{\ast }-I=0$. The displayed short exact sequences split because their right-hand groups are free. ThereforeIn particular, the mapping torus contributes an additional degree-one class from the time circle, as well as the invariant degree-one class in the fiber.

Cover the circle by two open arcs whose intersection has two components, and take their products with $X$. Both members of this cover retract onto $X$, while their intersection retracts onto $X\bigsqcup X$. The Mayer–Vietoris sequence has the mapafter consistent identifications of the two overlap components. Its kernel and cokernel are each $H_j(X)$. Exactness therefore suppliesThis splits because the last group is free abelian: lift a basis and extend linearly. With $H_{-1}=0$, the result isStarting from a point and iterating this decomposition, Pascal's identity yields

The Snake lemma applies to a commutative diagram of modules with exact rows $0\to A^{\prime }\stackrel{i^{\prime }}{\to }{B}^{\prime }\stackrel{j^{\prime }}{\to }{C}^{\prime }\to 0$ and $0\to A\stackrel{i}{\to }B\stackrel{j}{\to }C\to 0$, and vertical maps $f,g,h$. It supplies the exact sequenceFor $c^{\prime }\in \ker h$, choose $b^{\prime }$ with $j^{\prime }{b}^{\prime }=c^{\prime }$. Commutativity gives $jg{b}^{\prime }=0$, so $g{b}^{\prime }=i(a)$ for a unique $a\in A$. Define $\delta (c^{\prime })=[a]$ modulo $f(A^{\prime })$. Changing $b^{\prime }$ by $i^{\prime }(a^{\prime })$ changes $a$ by $f(a^{\prime })$, proving well-definedness. This construction is additive. Exactness follows by the same lift-and-chase: $\delta (c^{\prime })=0$ exactly when the lift can be adjusted into $\ker g$; a class in $\mathrm{coker}f$ maps to zero in $\mathrm{coker}g$ exactly when it is obtained from such a lift. The remaining kernel and cokernel positions follow directly from row exactness.

For an open cover $X=U\cup V$, use the short exact sequence of singular chain complexeswhere the last complex consists of chains whose simplices lie in one member of the cover. This is exact because a simplex present in both summands lies in their intersection. Barycentric subdivision and its chain homotopy to the identity show that this small-chain inclusion induces an isomorphism on homology: compactness of each simplex and a Lebesgue-number argument place sufficiently subdivided simplices inside the cover.

Applying the Snake lemma to a short exact sequence of chain complexes gives the connecting homomorphism $[c]\mapsto [da]$: lift a quotient cycle $c$ to the middle complex, take its differential, and identify that differential with an element of the subcomplex. Its independence of the lift and representative follows by the same chase. Repeating this degree by degree, or chasing the cycles and boundaries directly, givesThis is the Mayer–Vietoris sequence. Specifically, split a small cycle as $a+b$; then $da=-db$ lies in the intersection, and $\delta [a+b]=[da]$ with the sign convention above.

For the final truncation, use homological grading $d:C_j\to C_{j-1}$. The span $B$ in degrees below $n$ is a subcomplex. The span called $A$ in degrees at least $n$ need not be a subcomplex with the inherited differential: $d{C}_n$ may lie in $C_{n-1}$. Give $A$ the quotient differential, with $d:A_n\to A_{n-1}=0$ zero and all higher differentials inherited. Thenis a short exact sequence of chain complexes. Its only potentially nonzero connecting map isIndeed $H_n(A)=C_n/d{C}_{n+1}$; $da$ is a cycle in $B$, and changing $a$ by $db$ changes $da$ by zero. In other degrees either the source or the relevant target of the connecting map vanishes.

For $n\ge 1$, let $\#$ denote concatenation in the first cube coordinate and let $\cdot$ denote pointwise multiplication of maps into the topological group. Both operations descend to the homotopy group, and the constant map is their common identity. They satisfy the interchange rulewhich follows by considering the two halves of the first coordinate. Using the identity class $0$ givesTherefore $[\alpha \beta ]=[\alpha ]+[\beta ]$. The equality is on based homotopy classes; the usual reparametrization homotopies justify the unit identities for concatenation. This is the Eckmann-Hilton argument, and proves homotopy-group addition in a topological group even for $n=1$.

For the unit quaternions, the explicit inverse isBoth compositions cancel in the displayed order, without commuting the quaternions. Multiplication, inversion and all integer powers are continuous, so this proves that ${\Phi }_{k,l}$ is a homeomorphism for all integers $k,l$.

Put $m=k+l$. Let $a,b$ be the standard generators of $H_3(S^3\times S^3;\mathbb{Z})$, represented by the first and second factors. The previous pointwise-multiplication result and the Hurewicz theorem imply that the mapping degree of $q\mapsto q^m$ on $S^3$ is $m$, including negative integers. Restricting $\Phi$ to the two factors therefore givesThe map on $H_0$ is the identity. For the top homology group, take the dual degree-three cohomology classes $x,y$. We have ${\Phi }^{\ast }x=mx+y$, ${\Phi }^{\ast }y=x$. Since these classes have odd degree, graded commutativity of the cup product givesThus ${\Phi }_{\ast }$ is multiplication by $-1$ on $H_6$, and all other homology groups of the product are zero.

For the gluing, regard $\Phi$ as the attaching identification from $\partial (D^4\times S^3)$ to $\partial (S^3\times D^4)$. In these coordinates its first input is the boundary coordinate of $D^4$, its second input the fibre coordinate; its second output is the boundary coordinate of the other $D^4$. This makes the two pieces the usual two trivializations of a three-sphere bundle over the four-sphere.

Let $A=S^3\times D^4$ and $B=D^4\times S^3$, and parametrize their common boundary $T=S^3\times S^3$ using the $B$ coordinates. Collar neighbourhoods give an open cover with the same homotopy types, so the Mayer–Vietoris sequence applies. Both pieces retract onto $S^3$. In degree three, the map into the homology of the pieces isIndeed, inclusion into $A$ retains the first output coordinate, while inclusion into $B$ retains the second input coordinate. Exactness now givesThe second relation eliminates the second generator of the cokernel, leaving a single generator with relation $m$ times that generator equal to zero. Thus $\mathrm{coker}L=\mathbb{Z}/m\mathbb{Z}$. The kernel is zero if $m\ne 0$ and is generated by $(1,0)$ if $m=0$.

The degree-six boundary class gives $H_7(X_{k,l})\cong H_6(T)=\mathbb{Z}$. All remaining positive-degree groups outside degrees $3,4,7$ vanish by the same Mayer–Vietoris sequence; connectedness gives $H_0=\mathbb{Z}$. Consequently the complete integral answer isHere $\mathbb{Z}/0\mathbb{Z}$ means $\mathbb{Z}$, and a negative $m$ gives the same cyclic group as $|m|$. In particular, $m=\pm 1$ gives the integral homology of a seven-sphere, while $m=0$ gives the integral homology of $S^3\times S^4$.

Use integral cohomology and let $k\ge 1$. On the projective bundle $Y=\mathbb{P}(E)$ define the complex tautological line bundlePut $t=e(\mathcal{L})\in H^2(Y;\mathbb{Z})$, using the canonical complex orientation. On each fibre, $t$ is the Euler class of the tautological line over ${\mathbb{CP}}^{k-1}$, so $1,t,\dots ,t^{k-1}$ restrict to an integral basis of its cohomology.

Here is the finite-cover Leray-Hirsch theorem proof in this case. For each open set $U\subseteq X$, defineIf $E$ is trivial on $U$, its projective bundle is $U\times {\mathbb{CP}}^{k-1}$ and $\mathcal{L}$ is pulled back from the tautological line on the second factor. The Künneth theorem makes ${\Phi }_U$ an isomorphism, since the fibre has finite free integral cohomology. The same holds for every open subset of $U$.

Compactness of $X$ provides a finite trivializing cover $U_1,\dots ,U_N$. Induct on its size. If the result holds on $V=U_1\cup \cdots \cup U_{N-1}$, it holds on $U_N$ and on $V\cap U_N$, both lying in a trivializing chart. Form the diagram of Mayer–Vietoris sequences for the base, with the finitely many degree shifts on the left, and the total space on the right. Naturality of pullback and multiplication by the global even-degree classes $t^i$ makes the diagram commute. The Five lemma gives the isomorphism on $V\cup U_N$. ThusThis is the claimed free module statement, with its graded degree shifts made explicit.

The module basis expresses $t^k$ uniquely using the lower powers, with homogeneous coefficients. Define the Chern classes $c_j(E)\in H^{2j}(X;\mathbb{Z})$ by the unique relationThe pullbacks are suppressed when $f$ is regarded as a polynomial over $H^{\ast }(X)$. Evaluation at $t$ gives a surjective map $H^{\ast }(X)[T]\to H^{\ast }(Y)$. Since $f(T)$ is monic, monic polynomial division over a ring writes any polynomial as $q(T)f(T)+r(T)$ with degree of $r$ below $k$. If its evaluation is zero, module independence forces every coefficient of $r$ to vanish. Hence the kernel is exactly the ideal generated by $f$, provingThe even-degree coefficients are central in the graded commutative algebra, so this division and ideal statement also apply when the base has odd-degree cohomology. Uniqueness of the coefficients proves their naturality under pullback, by pulling back the relation and using the same module basis. With the hyperplane convention $u=-t$, the relation has the usual all-positive Chern coefficients; the alternating signs here correspond to the tautological line itself.

Now suppose $E={⨁}_i{L}_i$. The sections of a projective bundle $s_i:X\to Y$ choose the line $(L_i{)}_x\subset E_x$. They satisfy $s_i^{\ast }\mathcal{L}\cong L_i$, so $s_i^{\ast }t=e_i$ and pulling back the relation gives $f(e_i)=0$.

To obtain the full factorization over the possibly torsion-containing base ring, also use the associated open chartsThey contain the images of the sections $s_i$ and cover $Y$. Projection identifies $\mathcal{L}{|}_{V_i}$ with ${\pi }^{\ast }{L}_i{|}_{V_i}$, so $t-{\pi }^{\ast }{e}_i$ restricts to zero on $V_i$. The long exact sequence of the pair lifts this class to $H^2(Y,V_i)$. The relative cup product of the $k$ lifted classes lies inIts absolute image is ${\prod }_i(t-{\pi }^{\ast }{e}_i)$, so that product vanishes. The polynomial ${\prod }_i(T-e_i)$ is monic of degree $k$ and lies in the kernel of evaluation. Subtracting the monic generator $f(T)$ leaves degree below $k$, and module independence again makes the difference zero. ThereforeThe open-cover argument proves the factorization without a non-zero-divisor assumption on the differences $e_i-e_j$.

For a properly embedded oriented topological surface $F=\coprod F_j$, putThis defines the Thurston norm on integral relative homology classes in $H_2(Y,\partial Y;\mathbb{Z})$. Homogeneity extends it to rational classes, and continuity extends it to real classes. It is a seminorm: nonzero classes carried by spheres, disks, annuli or tori can have zero value.

Not every integral class has a connected embedded representative. In $Y=S^1\times S^2$, the class $2[\{\ast \}\times S^2]$ is a counterexample. A connected embedded oriented surface either separates, in which case it is null-homologous, or has connected complement. In the latter case join its two local sides through its complement to obtain a loop intersecting it exactly once. Its homology class is consequently a primitive lattice element. The proposed double has all intersection numbers even, so cannot have such a representative. Two disjoint parallel spheres do represent it.

For the knot exterior in an integral homology sphere, $H_2(Y,\partial Y;\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}$ is generated by a Seifert surface. Its Thurston norm iswhere $g(K)$ is the Seifert genus in the ambient integral homology sphere. To justify using a one-boundary-component Seifert surface, simplify a minimizing representative's boundary to parallel essential longitudes. The algebraic sum of these longitudes is one. Join oppositely oriented pairs by boundary annuli and push inward; this preserves Euler characteristic and does not increase ${\chi }_{-}$. Discard closed components, which represent zero because the ambient integral homology sphere has $H_2=0$. The component retaining the single boundary is a Seifert surface. This proves the formula, including the disk case.

When $\Vert y{\Vert }_T>0$, $g(K)\ge 1$. In zero Dehn surgery the longitude bounds a meridional disk in the filling solid torus. Cap a minimizing Seifert surface with that disk. The resulting closed surface $\hat{F}$ has the same genus and represents a generator of $H_2(Z;\mathbb{Z})$: its intersection with the filling core is one. ThereforeThe case $g(K)=1$ gives a zero-cost torus, rather than a negative value.

Here is a rigorous family of strict examples with $Z=S^1\times S^2$. Use the excellent knot representative theorem to choose a knot $J$ representing the generator of ${\pi }_1(Z)$ with an excellent three-manifold as exterior $E_0$. Inside $V=\nu J$, choose a winding number of a satellite pattern one pattern $P$ whose two-boundary-component exterior $E_1=V\setminus \mathrm{int}\nu P$ is also an excellent three-manifold. Both choices are available because neither ambient manifold has a spherical boundary component. Put $\Gamma =P(J)$ and $E=Z\setminus \mathrm{int}\nu \Gamma =E_0{\cup }_{\partial V}{E}_1$.

The interface is an incompressible surface. On a Thurston norm minimizing surface in $E$ with boundary the meridian ${\mu }_{\Gamma }$, arrange all interface intersections to be essential. The winding number of a satellite pattern one condition forces the oriented boundary on that interface to have net class ${\mu }_J$. The piece in $E_0$ has odd meridional boundary sum and costs at least one: a zero-cost representative would require an essential disk or annulus, forbidden by excellence. The piece in $E_1$ has opposite net meridians on its two boundary tori. It costs at least two: zero-cost components are boundary-parallel annuli or tori and carry no such boundary class, and its total meridional boundary count is even, so its nonzero negative Euler characteristic has even magnitude. Cutting along the interface adds the costs, since the essential pieces have no disk or sphere components. ThusHere the notation denotes the relative class whose boundary is ${\mu }_{\Gamma }$, not the meridian curve itself. This is the usual Thurston norm gluing along an incompressible torus argument.

Because $\Gamma$ represents the generator of $H_1(Z)$, $H_1(E)=\mathbb{Z}$, its meridian is null-homologous in $E$, and a longitudinal curve ${\lambda }_{\Gamma }$ generates $H_1(E)$. Fill $E$ along ${\lambda }_{\Gamma }$ to obtain $X$. The Mayer–Vietoris sequence gives $H_1(X)=0$, so $X$ is an integral homology sphere. Let $K$ be the filling core. Its preferred longitude is ${\mu }_{\Gamma }$; zero Dehn surgery on $K$ consequently recovers $Z$. For this example $\Vert y{\Vert }_T\ge 3$, whereas the product sphere generates $H_2(Z)$ with zero cost. HenceThe construction needs a nontrivial winding-one pattern; merely tying a local knot into the product core would not provide this lower bound.

The Mayer–Vietoris sequence for $K=M\cup N$ is the long exact sequence in homologyWe use integer coefficients. A simplicial cycle $c$ in $K$ can be written $c=m+n$ with chains in $M,N$. Since $\partial m=-\partial n$, this chain lies in $M\cap N$ and is a cycle. Define ${\partial }_n[c]=[\partial m]$; changing the splitting or the cycle representative changes this by a boundary, giving a well-defined connecting homomorphism.

First consider two acyclic subcomplexes. Their intersection is either empty or acyclic. If empty, positive-degree homology of their disjoint union vanishes. If nonempty, the reduced Mayer–Vietoris sequence implies the same conclusion, including degree one since the intersection has zero reduced $H_0$. This proves the claim for two subcomplexes.

Inductively let $U=M_1\cup \cdots \cup M_{n-1}$, $V=M_n$, and $W=U\cap V={\bigcup }_{i<n}(M_i\cap M_n)$. Discard empty members as necessary. Both $U$ and $W$ satisfy the same intersection hypothesis with at most $n-1$ members, so their homology vanishes in degrees at least $n-2$. The exact segment $H_i(U)\oplus H_i(V)\to H_i(K)\to H_{i-1}(W)$ then gives $\boxed{H_i(K)=0\text{ for }i\ge n-1}$. For $n\ge 3$ these degrees are positive and the induction applies directly; empty $W$ again means a disjoint union.

For sharpness, take the boundary of an $(n-1)$-simplex, covered by its $n$ facets. Every nonempty proper intersection of facets is a simplex and thus has the homology of a point; the intersection of all facets is empty. The union is a sphere $S^{n-2}$ and $H_{n-2}$ is nonzero. For $n=2$ it is two isolated vertices and $H_0\cong {\mathbb{Z}}^2$; for $n\ge 3$, $H_{n-2}\cong \mathbb{Z}$. The degree bound cannot be lowered.

Here is an intrinsic definition that also proves well-definedness. For a complex line bundle $L$, define its First Chern class to be the Euler class of its canonically oriented underlying real rank-two bundle: pull its integral Thom class back along the zero section after forgetting relative support. The complex orientation fixes the sign, so this construction makes no arbitrary choice of generator.

For a rank-$r>0$ complex vector bundle $E$, let $\pi :\mathbb{P}(E)\to X$ be its projective bundle of lines, let $S\subset {\pi }^{\ast }E$ be the tautological bundle, and put $h=-c_1(S)=c_1(S^{\ast })$. On every fiber ${\mathbb{CP}}^{r-1}$, $h$ is the positive degree-two generator. The Leray-Hirsch theorem says that if globally defined cohomology classes restrict to a free basis of the cohomology of every fiber, then multiplication by those classes identifies the cohomology of the total space with a free module over the base. Applied here, it givesThe finite trivializing cover in the question is sufficient for this application: the assertion holds on each trivializing open set by the Künneth theorem, since the fiber has finite free cohomology, and the Mayer–Vietoris sequence and the Five lemma glue it over the finite cover. The same local argument constructs the oriented Thom class used for line bundles. It does not require a choice of classifying map.

There are therefore unique classes $c_i(E)\in H^{2i}(X;\mathbb{Z})$ such thatDefine $c_0(E)=1$ and $c_i(E)=0$ for $i>r$. For rank zero the Total Chern class is $1$. This is the projective bundle definition of Chern classes. Existence and uniqueness follow by expressing $h^r$ in the displayed free module basis, with degrees determining each coefficient. The projective bundle and tautological bundle are intrinsic to $E$, and the line Thom class is uniquely fixed by orientation. Hence the resulting Chern classes do not depend on trivializations or other auxiliary choices. For a line bundle the relation is $h+c_1(E)=0$, agreeing with the original normalization. Pulling back this unique relation also proves naturality. This standard construction and the sum theorem are treated in Vector Bundles and K-Theory, Section 3.1.

The requested result is the Whitney sum formula for Chern classes:Here $c(E)=1+c_1(E)+\cdots +c_r(E)$, and the formula holds for complex vector bundles over a common base. In particular, a trivial bundle has total Chern class $1$.

Now take $B={\mathbb{CP}}^{n-1}$ and let $L\subset B\times {\mathbb{C}}^n$ be its tautological bundle. The standard Hermitian inner product gives the rank-$(n-1)$ complex bundle $Q=L^{\perp }$, with $L\oplus Q\cong {\underline{\mathbb{C}}}^n$. The orthogonal complex line flag manifold in the question is precisely $\mathbb{P}(Q)$: over a first line $\ell$, the second line is any line in ${\ell }^{\perp }$. Local orthonormal frames give this identification as a fiber bundle, with fiber ${\mathbb{CP}}^{n-2}$.

Let $x=c_1(L^{\ast })$ on $B$, also writing $x$ for its pullback to $\mathbb{P}(Q)$. By part 3(a), $H^{\ast }(B;\mathbb{Z})=\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x^n)$. The Whitney sum formula for Chern classes givesLet $S_2$ be the second tautological line on $\mathbb{P}(Q)$, and set $y=c_1(S_2^{\ast })$. Thus $x,y$ are exactly the pullbacks of the positive hyperplane classes from the two projective factors. The projective bundle definition of Chern classes for $Q$ givesTogether with $x^n=0$, this gives a surjective graded ring mapThere are no additional relations. Indeed the second relation is monic of degree $n-1$ in $y$, so polynomial division makes its source free over $\mathbb{Z}[x]/(x^n)$ on $1,y,\dots ,y^{n-2}$. The projective bundle formula for complex vector bundles gives exactly the same free basis on the target. The map sends each basis element to its corresponding basis element, and is therefore an isomorphism. ConsequentlyThis is the cohomology ring of the orthogonal complex line flag manifold. Its additive basis is $x^i{y}^j$ with $0\le i<n$, $0\le j<n-1$. As a symmetry check, multiplying the second relation by $y-x$ gives $y^n-x^n=0$, so $y^n=0$ as expected from the second projection. For $n=2$, every line has a unique orthogonal line, and the relations become $x^2=0$, $x+y=0$, giving the ring of ${\mathbb{CP}}^1$. If $n=1$, the space is empty and the second relation is $1=0$, so the printed formula still gives the zero cohomology ring.

Choose the Hopf map $\eta$ and orientations so its Hopf invariant is one. The cellular cohomology of $Y_d$ is $\mathbb{Z}$ in degrees $0,2,4$ and zero otherwise. Let $x,z$ be generators in degrees two and four. Precomposing $\eta$ with a degree-$d$ self-map of $S^3$ represents $d\eta$. The induced map of mapping cones is the identity on the two-cell and has degree $d$ on the four-cell. Since the Hopf mapping cone has cup square equal to its top generator, naturality of the cup product gives $x^2=dz$. Equivalently, precomposition scales the Hopf invariant by degree. HenceThe coefficient is $d$, not $d^2$: multiplication in ${\pi }_3(S^2)$ is being used, rather than postcomposition by a degree-$d$ map of the target sphere.

For $X=X_{d,f}$, the only nonzero cellular boundary is $C_4\to C_3$, multiplication by $f$. Thus its cellular cohomology givesLet $x$ again generate $H^2$, and let $z$ be the class of the four-cell cochain. Collapsing the three-sphere gives a map $X\to Y_d$ which pulls the degree-two generator back to $x$ and the degree-four generator back to $z$. Hence $x^2=dz$, now interpreted modulo $f$. Every other product of positive-degree classes vanishes by dimension. This is the cohomology ring of a Hopf attachment with a sphere summand. More explicitly, if $f\ne 0$,If $f=0$, there is additionally a generator $y$ of degree three, with $xy=y^2=yz=0$. The displayed description of the groups uses $\mathbb{Z}/0\mathbb{Z}=\mathbb{Z}$, so the zero case is included. In particular, a nonzero $f$ kills the degree-three cohomology but can leave torsion in degree four.

There are no one-cells, and attaching cells of dimension at least three does not change ${\pi }_1$. Thus $X$ is simply connected. The Hurewicz theorem in degree two gives

To compute ${\pi }_3$, choose a map $g:X\to {\mathbb{CP}}^{\infty }=K(\mathbb{Z},2)$ representing $x$. This Eilenberg–MacLane space can be realized by the classifying space of $S^1$. On $S^2$ the map is the standard inclusion; on $S^3$ it is constant, and it extends over the four-cell since ${\pi }_3(K(\mathbb{Z},2))=0$. Its homotopy fibre $T$ is the pullback of the universal circle bundle $S^{\infty }\to {\mathbb{CP}}^{\infty }$. The map on ${\pi }_2$ is an isomorphism, so the long exact sequence of homotopy groups of a fibration gives ${\pi }_1(T)={\pi }_2(T)=0$ and ${\pi }_3(T)\cong {\pi }_3(X)$. Therefore the Hurewicz theorem identifies the latter with $H_3(T;\mathbb{Z})$.

Over $W=S^2\vee S^3$, the circle-bundle total space isThe first summand is the Hopf fibration total space over $S^2$, and the second is the trivial bundle over $S^3$. Their intersection is the fibre over the wedge point. The Mayer–Vietoris sequence gives $H_3(P)=\mathbb{Z}A\oplus \mathbb{Z}B$, with generators from the two three-spheres. These are the lifts of ${\eta }_1$ and $i_2$. The circle bundle over $W$ also has a 2-connected total space, so lifting and the Hurewicz theorem identify $d{\eta }_1+f{i}_2$ with $dA+fB$.

Over the attached four-disc the bundle is trivial. The resulting relative pair has the homology of $(S^1\times D^4,S^1\times S^3)$, so $H_4(T,P)=\mathbb{Z}$ and $H_3(T,P)=0$. Its boundary map sends a generator to the lift of the attaching map, namely $dA+fB$. The long exact sequence in relative homology now givesApplying Smith normal form to this one relation proves the third homotopy group of a Hopf attachment with a sphere summand:Since $d>0$, the greatest common divisor is positive even when $f=0$. This derivation uses the required map to an Eilenberg–MacLane space and determines the extension, rather than merely the orders of its pieces.

Use integer coefficients. The mapping-torus homology from Mayer–Vietoris works for every continuous map $f:X\to X$, without assuming that the mapping torus is a fiber bundle. Project to the time circle and choose two open arcs, one containing the seam and one away from it. The inverse image $U$ of the seam arc is a mapping cylinder neighborhood with a deformation retraction to its target copy of $X$; the inverse image $V$ of the other arc is a product with a deformation retraction to $X$. Their intersection has two components, each with a deformation retraction to $X$. Label the upper component first. With the convention that the second inclusion in the Mayer–Vietoris sequence has a minus sign, its homology map isIndeed, the upper component includes into the seam neighborhood by the identity, while retracting the lower component across the seam applies $f$. Put $u=a+b$ and $v=b$, and replace target coordinates $(p,q)$ by $(p+q,-q)$. The map becomes $((f_{\ast }-\mathrm{id})v,u)$. Negating $v$ gives a direct sum of $\mathrm{id}-f_{\ast }$ and an isomorphism. Canceling the latter summands in the long exact sequence yieldsIn particular, there is a short exact sequenceNo splitting of this short exact sequence is assumed at this stage.

For the torus, take the coordinate loops $c_1(t)=[(t,0)]$ and $c_2(t)=[(0,t)]$ as the basis of $H_1$. Their lifts to ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ have endpoint displacements $e_1,e_2$. Applying $A$ changes those displacements to its columns, soThis also follows from the identification of the first homology group with the abelianization of the fundamental group. The Künneth theorem gives $H_2(X)=\mathbb{Z}$, with generator the product orientation class. If $\alpha ,\beta$ are the dual degree-one cohomology classes, then $\alpha ⌣\beta$ evaluates to one on this generator, andThus the degree-two homology map is multiplication by $\det A$, as in homology of an integer torus endomorphism. The claim that the torus map is a homeomorphism requires $A$ to be a unimodular matrix, equivalently an integer inverse or $\det A=\pm 1$; nonsingularity over $\mathbb{R}$ alone would only give a covering map of finite degree. The particular matrix here is unimodular.

For this matrix, $\det A=1$ andIts kernel is zero and its Smith normal form is $\mathrm{diag}(1,2)$, so its cokernel is $\mathbb{Z}/2$. The maps $\mathrm{id}-f_{\ast }$ on $H_0$ and $H_2$ are zero. Substituting into the short exact sequences, and splitting the degree-one extension because its quotient $\mathbb{Z}$ is free, gives