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If an equivalence relation is closed in a space's square and the quotient map is open, the quotient is Hausdorff. An inequivalent pair has an open rectangle avoiding the relation. The two factor images are open quotient neighborhoods and are disjoint, since an intersection would give equivalent representatives in that rectangle. Conversely, a Hausdorff quotient always has a closed equivalence relation by pulling back its closed diagonal.

The quotient norm isChanging the representative does not change the infimum. The triangle inequality and absolute homogeneity follow from those of the original norm. Vanishing means $x$ belongs to the closure of $Y$, hence to $Y$ because the subspace is closed. Thus this is a norm.

Use the absolutely convergent series criterion for completeness. If $\sum \Vert {\xi }_n{\Vert }_{X/Y}<\infty$, choose representatives $z_n$ of ${\xi }_n$ satisfying $\Vert z_n\Vert \le \Vert {\xi }_n{\Vert }_{X/Y}+2^{-n}$. The series $\sum z_n$ converges in the Banach space $X$ to some $z$. Since the quotient map is contractive, $\sum {\xi }_n$ converges to $z+Y$. Consequently the quotient is a Banach space.

A character of an algebra is a nonzero multiplicative complex-linear map $\chi :A\to \mathbb{C}$. A maximal proper ideal is a proper ideal contained in no larger proper ideal. For a character, $\chi (1)=1$ and $\chi (a)\in \sigma (a)$: otherwise $a-\chi (a)1$ would be invertible although its character value is zero. The spectral bound gives $|\chi (a)|\le \Vert a\Vert$, so the character is continuous. It is onto, and its kernel is a closed maximal ideal because $A/\ker \chi \cong \mathbb{C}$.

Conversely let $M$ be maximal. Its closure is an ideal and remains proper: otherwise an element of $M$ would lie within distance one of the unit, hence would be invertible by the Neumann series, forcing $1\in M$. Maximality then gives $\overline{M}=M$. The Banach algebra $A/M$ is a field. For any $b$ in this quotient choose $\lambda \in \sigma (b)$, using nonemptiness of the complex spectrum. In a field only zero is noninvertible, so $b-\lambda 1=0$. Hence every quotient element is a scalar multiple of the unit. The quotient map therefore determines a character ${\chi }_M$, uniquely normalized by ${\chi }_M(1)=1$. These constructions are inverse:For the convolution algebra, write $e_j$ for the sequence supported at $j$ with value one. Then $e_j{e}_k=e_{j+k}$, $e_0=1$, and $e_1{e}_{-1}=1$. If $z=\chi (e_1)$, continuity and $\Vert e_{\pm 1}{\Vert }_1=1$ imply $|z|\le 1$ and $|z^{-1}|\le 1$. Thus $|z|=1$, so uniquely $z=e^{it}$ for $0\le t<2\pi$, and $\chi (e_j)=e^{ijt}$ for every integer $j$. Absolute convergence in ${\ell }^1$ now givesConversely each displayed map is bounded, nonzero, and multiplicative, since the absolutely convergent double sum can be rearranged along $k+l=j$. Thus these are all characters, and all maximal proper ideals areThey are distinct because the character is uniquely recovered from its kernel and its value on the unit.

An action assigns each $g\in G$ a homeomorphism of $X$, with $e\cdot x=x$ and $g\cdot (h\cdot x)=(gh)\cdot x$. For the covering assertion use a properly discontinuous free action: every $x$ has an open neighbourhood $U$ such that $gU\cap U=\varnothing$ for every $g\ne e$. Then the translates $gU$ are pairwise disjoint. The quotient map $p$ is open because $p^{-1}(p(U))={\bigcup }_{g}gU$ is open. Each restriction $p:gU\to p(U)$ is a continuous open bijection and hence a homeomorphism. Thus $p(U)$ is evenly covered and $p:X\to X/G$ is a covering map.

For the surjective homomorphism one additionally needs $X$ path connected; choose $x_0$ and its image $y_0$. Lift a based loop at $y_0$ from $x_0$. Its endpoint has a unique form $g{x}_0$. Homotopy lifting makes this assignment well-defined on the fundamental group. With concatenation meaning first the first loop and then the second, the second lift from $g{x}_0$ is $g$ times the lift from $x_0$, so the endpoint is $gh{x}_0$. This proves the homomorphism property. For each $g$, a path in $X$ from $x_0$ to $g{x}_0$ projects to a loop realizing $g$. HencePointwise freeness alone is insufficient for a covering: an irrational rotation action of $\mathbb{Z}$ on the circle is free but its orbits are dense. Path connectedness is also essential for the final surjectivity claim as written: the discrete space $X=G$ with left translation is a free properly discontinuous action whose quotient is a point, and its trivial fundamental group cannot surject onto nontrivial $G$. The proof supplies the standard connected covering-space interpretation rather than hiding these hypotheses.

Use integral homology throughout. The singular chain group $C_k(X)$ is free on the continuous maps from the standard $k$-simplex to $X$. Since the boundary operator preserves chains lying in $A$, these form a chain subcomplex. The relative chain complex and its relative homology areThe short exact sequence of chain complexes gives the long exact sequence in relative homology.

A sufficient hypothesis for the quotient comparison is a nonempty good pair: $A$ is closed and has an open neighbourhood $U$ which admits a deformation retraction onto $A$ while fixing $A$ throughout. A CW pair is another standard sufficient setting. These hypotheses hold for a simple closed curve in the surface here, using its annular collar neighbourhood. The induced quotient map $q:X\to Y=X/A$ collapses $A$ to a point $a$.

Here is the proof of the collapsing a pair theorem. Put $V=U/A\subset Y$. The deformation retraction makes $H_{\ast }(U,A)=0$, so the long exact sequence of the triple gives $H_{\ast }(X,A)\cong H_{\ast }(X,U)$. It also contracts $V$ onto $a$, giving $H_{\ast }(Y,\{a\})\cong H_{\ast }(Y,V)$. Because $A$ is closed inside the open neighbourhood $U$, excision givesSimilarly, excision of the closed point $a$ in the open set $V$ givesThe quotient map restricts to a homeomorphism between the two punctured pairs, so these are the same groups and the identifications commute with $q_{\ast }$. Finally $H_{\ast }(Y,\{a\})\cong {\tilde{H}}_{\ast }(Y)$, including degree zero. ThusThe neighbourhood condition is part of the result; the quotient assertion is not made for arbitrary bad pairs.

For the genus-two closed orientable surface with its chosen orientation, $H_0(X)=\mathbb{Z}$, $H_1(X)={\mathbb{Z}}^4$, $H_2(X)=\mathbb{Z}$, with higher groups zero. The curve has $H_0(A)=H_1(A)=\mathbb{Z}$. Its relevant long exact sequence in relative homology isThe final map is an isomorphism because both spaces are connected. Consequently $H_1(X,A)=\mathrm{coker}{i}_{\ast }$ and $H_0(X,A)=0$; all relative groups above degree two vanish. The quotient topological space is connected, so its unreduced $H_0$ is $\mathbb{Z}$.

In the separating case, the curve is the oriented boundary of one of the two subsurfaces. Its homology class in $X$ is therefore zero, so $i_{\ast }=0$. The exact sequence becomesThe first sequence splits since its quotient is a free abelian group. Hence the homology after collapsing a separating surface curve isGeometrically, collapsing the boundary of each once-punctured torus fills its puncture with a cone on the circle, which is a disk. The quotient is a wedge sum of two tori at the collapsed point. Their two independent fundamental classes explain the extra second-homology generator.

In the nonseparating case, join the two new boundary components of the cut surface by an arc. Upon regluing, this supplies a closed curve meeting $A$ once transversely. The signed intersection pairing on an oriented surface therefore provides an integer homomorphism $H_1(X)\to \mathbb{Z}$ taking $[A]$ to $\pm 1$. Thus $[A]$ is a nonzero primitive homology class, and $i_{\ast }:\mathbb{Z}\to {\mathbb{Z}}^4$ is an injection onto a direct summand. Its kernel is zero and its cokernel is ${\mathbb{Z}}^3$. The same exact sequence gives $H_2(X,A)\cong H_2(X)\cong \mathbb{Z}$. Therefore the homology after collapsing a nonseparating surface curve isAnother description starts from the genus-one surface with two boundary circles. Collapse those two circles separately to obtain a closed torus with two marked points, then identify the two points. Identifying two distinct points in a connected CW complex adds a loop up to homotopy, so this quotient has the homotopy type of $T^2\vee S^1$. The preceding relative homology calculation proves the groups without requiring that homotopy description.

The multiplicative norm first rules out zero divisors: if $xy=0$ and $x\ne 0$, then $0=|x||y|$ forces $y=0$. If the dimension is zero the claimed bound already holds, so suppose it is positive.

It is worth checking that the printed description of a ring with an underlying real vector space really permits differentiation of multiplication. This follows from the norm identity even if compatibility with real scalars is not separately stated. For fixed $x$, the map $L_x(y)=xy$ is additive by distributivity, andIt is therefore continuous. Additivity gives rational linearity. Approximating a real number by rationals and using continuity proves $L_x(ty)=t{L}_x(y)$ for every real $t$. The same argument holds in the other variable. This is automatic real bilinearity from a multiplicative norm, so multiplication is a bilinear map between finite-dimensional vector spaces, and hence is smooth.

Let $S=\{x\in A:|x|=1\}$ be the unit sphere of the given positive-definite bilinear form. It is a copy of $S^{n-1}$. The squaring mapis well defined because $|x^2|=|x{|}^2=1$, and is smooth. Commutativity gives its derivativeFor $x\in S$ and $v\ne 0$, the norm identity gives $|D{Q}_x(v)|=2|v|$, so the derivative is injective, including on the tangent space $T_{x}S=x^{\perp }$. It takes tangent vectors into $T_{x^2}S$ since $Q$ maps the sphere to itself. Alternatively, polarization of $|xy{|}^2=|x{|}^2|y{|}^2$ gives $⟨xy,xz⟩=|x{|}^2⟨y,z⟩$, so $⟨x^2,2xv⟩=2⟨x,v⟩=0$ directly.

The only identifications under squaring are antipodal:The factorization uses commutativity, and the last implication uses the absence of zero divisors. Conversely $Q(-x)=Q(x)$. It follows that $Q$ induces an injective smooth mapThe antipodal quotient map is a local diffeomorphism, so the injectivity of $DQ$ implies injectivity of $Dq$. Since Real projective space is compact, the stated compact injective immersion is an embedding theorem makes $q$ a closed embedding.

For $n\ge 2$ its source and target have the same dimension $n-1$. The inverse function theorem makes its image open as well as closed in the connected sphere $S^{n-1}$. It is nonempty, so the image is the whole sphere; consequently $q$ is a diffeomorphism. But for $n\ge 3$ this is impossible:Indeed, the antipodal two-sheeted covering map $S^{n-1}\to {\mathbb{RP}}^{n-1}$ has simply connected total space in this range, and is its universal cover, with deck group $\mathbb{Z}/2$. A sphere of dimension at least two is simply connected. These fundamental groups cannot be those of homeomorphic spaces.

We have obtained the dimension bound for a commutative Euclidean normed algebra:The real numbers and complex numbers with their usual products and Euclidean norms attain dimensions one and two. In dimension two, the induced map ${\mathbb{RP}}^1\to S^1$ is entirely compatible with the argument: the circle squaring map identifies exactly the two antipodal preimages. We neither assume a multiplicative identity nor use a classification of real division algebras; the squaring argument proves the bound from the supplied hypotheses.

For a convex subset of a Banach space, weak closure equals norm closure. The Mazur theorem states that for every convex set $C\subseteq X$,Since every bounded linear functional is norm-continuous, the weak topology is weaker than the norm topology, giving ${\overline{C}}^{\Vert \cdot \Vert }\subseteq {\overline{C}}^w$.

For the reverse inclusion, use this form of the Hahn-Banach separation theorem: if $D$ is a nonempty norm-closed convex set in a real normed vector space and $x\notin D$, there is a continuous real-linear functional $F$ such thatApply it to $D={\overline{C}}^{\Vert \cdot \Vert }$. In a complex Banach space, use the underlying real space; every continuous real-linear $F$ is the real part of the complex bounded linear functional $f(v)=F(v)-iF(iv)$. The separating strict inequality gives a neighbourhood open for the weak topology of $x$ disjoint from $D$, so $x\notin {\overline{C}}^w$. The empty set case is immediate. This proves the Mazur theorem.

A weakly null sequence has disjoint convex blocks converging to zero in norm. If $x_n\stackrel{w}{\to }0$, then for every starting index $m$,The Mazur theorem places $0$ in the norm closure of that tail convex hull. Thus a finite convex combination of vectors from any tail can have norm less than any prescribed $\epsilon >0$.

Choose the convex blocks recursively. After selecting the previous terminal index $q_{n-1}$, let $p_n>q_{n-1}$, and choose a finite convex combination from $\{x_i:i\ge p_n\}$ with norm less than $2^{-n}$. Choose $q_n$ beyond its largest used index, padding the intervening coefficients and the final coefficient with zero. This ensures the printed strict condition $p_n<q_n$ as well as $q_n<p_{n+1}$. Setting unused coefficients to zero yieldsTherefore $u_n\to 0$ in norm. The recursive tail selection is what makes these convex blocks, rather than merely unrelated convex combinations.

Next suppose $X^{\ast }$ is separable and $(x_n)$ is bounded. Use the canonical embedding into the bidual $J_X:X\to X^{\ast \ast }$, where $J_{X}x(f)=f(x)$. If $\Vert x_n\Vert \le M$, then $J_X{x}_n\in M{B}_{X^{\ast \ast }}$. The Banach-Alaoglu theorem makes this ball compact in $\sigma (X^{\ast \ast },X^{\ast })$, and weak-star metrizability of the dual ball makes it metrizable because its predual $X^{\ast }$ is separable. A compact space that is a metric space is sequentially compact, so some subsequence $(y_n)$ satisfiesThe limit need not belong to $J_{X}X$; it is precisely the use of the bidual space that supplies compactness without assuming reflexivity.

For a convex block $u_n={\sum }_{i=p_n}^{q_n}{a}_i{y}_i$, every $f\in X^{\ast }$ satisfiesBoth $f(y_n)$ and $f(u_n)$ tend to $\varphi (f)$, soThis is the useful convex-block cancellation of a weak-star limit; it does not require the limit to be a vector in $X$.

The quotient sequence has approximate lifts in $3B_X$ that are weakly null after passing to a subsequence. Let $q:X\to Z=X/Y$ be the quotient map, with the quotient norm. Since $\Vert z_n\Vert \le 1$, choose $v_n\in X$ such thatThis uses the infimum defining the quotient norm and does not assume that it is attained. By the preceding compactness argument, pass to a subsequence $y_n=v_{k_n}$ with a common weak-star limit in $X^{\ast \ast }$. Its quotient images $q(y_n)=z_{k_n}$ form a weakly null sequence.

Apply the convex block construction to $(q(y_n))$ in the quotient Banach space. Using the same coefficients on $(y_n)$ gives convex blocksSet $x_n=y_n-u_n$. The convex-block cancellation of a weak-star limit proves $x_n\stackrel{w}{\to }0$, whileThus the approximate weakly null lifting through a quotient is achieved with the required bound:

Define a continuous map $F:S\to T$ by the standard embedded torus of revolution parametrizationIts image lies in $T$ becauseThe periodicity of the trigonometric functions makes $F(s,0)=F(s,1)$ and $F(0,t)=F(1,t)$, so $F$ is constant on every $\sim$-equivalence class. The universal property of the quotient topology therefore gives a unique continuous map

Every point of $T$ has cylindrical radius between $1$ and $3$, so its polar angle determines $s$ modulo one, while the pair $(\sqrt{x^2+y^2}-2,z)$ on the unit circle determines $t$ modulo one. Hence $\overline{F}$ is surjective, and two parameters have the same image exactly when they differ by the endpoint identifications defining $\sim$; thus it is injective.

The quotient $S/\sim$ is compact as the continuous image of the given compact space $S$ under the quotient map. The surface $T$ is Hausdorff because it has the subspace topology inherited from ${\mathbb{R}}^3$. The compact-to-Hausdorff continuous bijection theorem now shows that $\overline{F}$ is a homeomorphism. Therefore

Choose a contractionApply the homotopy extension property to the initial map ${\mathrm{id}}_X:X\to X$ and to $h$, regarded as a homotopy into $X$. It suppliessuch that

At $t=1$, the map $H_1$ sends every point of $A$ to $a_0$. It is therefore constant on the equivalence classes of the quotient topology $X/A$. By the universal property of the quotient topology, there is a continuous mapsuch thatwhere $q:X\to X/A$ is the quotient map. The homotopy $H$ immediately gives

For every $t$, the map $q\circ H_t$ is constant on $A$, because $H(a,t)=h(a,t)\in A$. It therefore descends toThis descended map is continuous: the product $q\times {\mathrm{id}}_I$ is a quotient map because $I$ is compact Hausdorff, and $q\circ H$ is constant on its fibres.
At the endpoints,ThusThe maps $q$ and $g$ are homotopy inverses, soThis proves the theorem on collapsing a contractible cofibration.

The standard CW complex structure on ${\mathbb{CP}}^n$ has one cell in every even dimension from $0$ to $2n$, and ${\mathbb{CP}}^k$ is its $2k$-skeleton. Collapsing that subcomplex leaves one zero-cell and one cell in each dimension $2i$ for $k+1\le i\le n$. All cellular boundaries vanish, so

Let $x\in H^2({\mathbb{CP}}^n;\mathbb{Z})$ be the usual generator. For $i>k$, choose $u_i$ whose pullback under the quotient map is $x^i$. Naturality of the cup product and the cohomology ring of complex projective space giveTogether with the unit, this determines the ring; equivalently, its reduced part is the ideal $(x^{k+1})/(x^{n+1})$ with the inherited multiplication. This is the cohomology ring of a collapsed projective subspace.

If $n=k+1$, the quotient has just a zero-cell and a $2n$-cell, so it is $S^{2n}$ and is a compact manifold. Conversely, suppose $n\ge k+2$ and the quotient is homotopy equivalent to a compact manifold. Its top cohomology is $\mathbb{Z}$, so that manifold must be closed, orientable, and $2n$-dimensional. But $H^{2n-2}\cong \mathbb{Z}$ while $H^2=0$, contradicting Poincare duality. Therefore

For the quotient map $\pi$, a subset $U$ of the quotient is open exactly when ${\pi }^{-1}(U)$ is open in $X$. This definition immediately makes $\pi$ continuous. If $g$ is continuous then $g\circ \pi$ is continuous. Conversely, continuity of the composition gives, for every open $V\subseteq Z$, that ${\pi }^{-1}(g^{-1}(V))$ is open. By the defining criterion $g^{-1}(V)$ is open, so $g$ is continuous.

A map $h$ constant on each equivalence class defines a unique map $\bar{h}([x])=h(x)$. It is well-defined by the assumed class constancy, and its composition with $\pi$ is $h$. The preceding criterion proves that $\bar{h}$ is continuous.

For the integer lattice quotient, defineThis continuous map is onto the product of the two unit circles, and its fibres are exactly the lattice equivalence classes. It therefore induces a continuous bijection $\bar{F}:{\mathbb{R}}^2/{\mathbb{Z}}^2\to {\mathbb{T}}^2$. Every class has a representative in $[0,1{]}^2$, so the quotient is the continuous image of that compact square and is compact. The target is Hausdorff as a subspace of ${\mathbb{C}}^2$. A continuous bijection from a compact space to a Hausdorff space is a homeomorphism, provingFinally, if $U\subseteq {\mathbb{R}}^2$ is open, then ${\pi }^{-1}(\pi (U))={\bigcup }_{m\in {\mathbb{Z}}^2}(U+m)$ is open, being a union of translates. The quotient criterion makes $\pi (U)$ open. Thus the quotient map is an open map.

A Hausdorff space separates any two distinct points by disjoint open neighborhoods. For a subspace $A\subseteq X$, intersect such neighborhoods in $X$ with $A$ to obtain disjoint neighborhoods in the subspace topology. Thus subspaces inherit the Hausdorff property.

If $(z_1,z_2)$ lies off the diagonal of a Hausdorff space's square, choose disjoint open neighborhoods $U$ of $z_1$ and $V$ of $z_2$. The open rectangle $U\times V$ contains the pair and avoids the diagonal. Therefore its complement is open and the diagonal is closed.

The map $F:X\times Y\to Z\times Z$ given by $F(x,y)=(f(x),g(y))$ is continuous by the coordinate criterion from E3. The equality locus is $F^{-1}({\Delta }_Z)$ and is closed as an inverse image of a closed set.

Let $q:X\to X/\sim$ be the quotient map. If the quotient is Hausdorff, apply the same argument to $q$ in both coordinates:is closed in $X\times X$.

Conversely suppose $R$ is closed and $q$ is open. Take two distinct quotient points, with representatives $x,y$. Since $(x,y)\notin R$, an open rectangle $U\times V$ around it avoids $R$. The images $q(U)$ and $q(V)$ are open quotient neighborhoods. They are disjoint, because a quotient point in their intersection would have equivalent representatives $u\in U$, $v\in V$, giving $(u,v)\in R$. Hence the quotient is Hausdorff. Thus closedness of the relation and openness of the quotient map suffice for a Hausdorff quotient.

A quotient map $\pi :X\to Y$ is a surjection such that $U\subseteq Y$ is open if and only if ${\pi }^{-1}(U)$ is open in $X$. Thus the topology on $Y$ is exactly the final topology induced by $\pi$.

For an open continuous surjection, continuity gives one implication. For the other, if ${\pi }^{-1}(U)$ is open then $U=\pi ({\pi }^{-1}(U))$ is open by openness and surjectivity. Hence it is a quotient map.

If $\pi :X\to Y$ and $\sigma :Y\to Z$ are quotient maps, they are surjective andThis set is open exactly when ${\sigma }^{-1}(U)$ is open, exactly when $U$ is open. Thus the composition is a quotient map.

For the factorization, continuity of $g$ implies continuity of $f=g\circ \pi$. Conversely, if $f$ is continuous and $U$ is open in $Z$, then ${\pi }^{-1}(g^{-1}(U))=f^{-1}(U)$ is open. The quotient property makes $g^{-1}(U)$ open. This holds for every open $U$, so $g$ is continuous.

For the surjection $p$ to the set of equivalence classes, define a subset $V$ of the quotient to be open exactly when $p^{-1}(V)$ is open in $X$. Inverse images preserve the empty and full sets, arbitrary unions and finite intersections. Applying the topology axioms in $X$ proves this is a topology on the quotient, and it makes $p$ continuous.

The map need not be open. On $X=\mathbb{R}$, identify zero with one and leave every other point in its own class. The set $U=(-1/4,1/4)$ is open, but its saturation iswhich is not open in $\mathbb{R}$. Thus $p(U)$ is not open in the quotient topology. Continuity of a quotient map does not imply openness.

The underlying set of the quotient space is the set of equivalence classes $X/R$. With quotient map $q(x)=[x]$, its quotient topology is defined by declaring $U\subseteq X/R$ open exactly when $q^{-1}(U)$ is open in $X$. This makes $q$ a continuous surjection and is the finest topology with that property.

DefineThe two formulas agree on the attached end, so the universal property of the quotient topology makes $r$ a continuous map. Also $ri={\mathrm{id}}_Y$.

Slide each cylinder point towards its attached end usingAt $t=1$ these formulas both give $i(f(x))$, so they define a homotopy on the mapping cylinder. For continuity, the product of a quotient map with the unit interval is a quotient map; the formulas before taking the quotient topology are continuous maps and agree on every identified pair. ThusMoreover $Y$ stays fixed throughout. We have obtained the stronger conclusionIn particular $r$ is the requested homotopy retract.

Writefor the quotient map defining the mapping cylinder, and put $j(x)=q(x,0)$. Since the equivalence relation only attaches points at height $1$ to $Y$, distinct points at height $0$ remain distinct. Thus $j$ is an injective continuous map.

Define the homotopyIt is a continuous map, with $H(x,0)=q(x,1)=i(f(x))$ and $H(x,1)=j(x)$. HenceEven if $f$ identifies many points, the free end of the mapping cylinder retains a separate copy of every point of $X$.

Write $Q=(Z\times I)/\mathcal{R}$. Since $Q$ is homeomorphic to the circle, it is Hausdorff. For fixed $t\in I$, the functionis continuous, being a coordinate slice of the quotient map. Part (a)(i) therefore makes it constant. Choose $x_0\in Z$ and setThen $g$ is continuous andSince the quotient map $p$ is a surjection, so is $g$. This is Hausdorff factorization through a cofinite product factor: a continuous map into a Hausdorff space cannot distinguish the points of the coordinate with the cofinite topology.

If $g$ were injective, it would be a continuous bijection from the compact closed interval $I$ to the Hausdorff space $Q$. Part (a)(ii) would make it a homeomorphism, contradicting the fact that the circle and interval are not homeomorphic.

To recall that obstruction explicitly, remove the interior point $1/2$ from $I$. The resulting topological subspace is separated by the nonempty relatively open sets $[0,1/2)$ and $(1/2,1]$, so it is not connected. The circle with any one point removed is connected: after a rotation, it is the image under a continuous map of the connected open interval $(0,2\pi )$ under $t\mapsto (\cos t,\sin t)$. A homeomorphism and its restriction preserve connectedness, giving a contradiction.

Thus $g$ is not injective. Choose distinct $a,b\in I$ with $g(a)=g(b)$. ThenIn particular the requested $x,a,b$ exist. The argument proves the stronger conclusion that the same two interval coordinates work for every $x$.

Let $q_S:S^2\to S^2/{\sim }_S$ and $q_D:D^2\to D^2/{\sim }_D$ be the quotient maps. The continuous mapis a homeomorphism onto the upper hemisphere; its inverse function is the restriction of the projection map $(x,y,z)\mapsto (x,y)$. Every antipodal pair on $S^2$ meets that hemisphere. Moreover, two points of this hemisphere are antipodal only if both lie on the equator. ThusBy the universal property of the quotient topology, $q_S\circ h$ induces a continuous bijection

To justify continuity of the inverse function, the source is compact, being a continuous image of a compact space $D^2$; the Heine-Borel theorem gives compactness of $D^2$. The target is Hausdorff, as follows. For distinct equivalence classes $[u]\ne [v]$, putIn $S^2$, take the union $U$ of the two relative open balls of radius $\delta /3$ about $u,-u$, and similarly take $V$ about $v,-v$. Every distance between their respective centres is at least $\delta$, so the triangle inequality gives $U\cap V=\varnothing$. These open sets contain entire antipodal pairs, hence $q_S^{-1}(q_S(U))=U$ and similarly for $V$. The quotient topology therefore makes $q_S(U)$ and $q_S(V)$ disjoint open neighbourhoods of the two classes.

The compact-to-Hausdorff continuous bijection theorem now gives the required homeomorphism $H$.

The sphere $S^2$ is path-connected. For $u,v\in S^2$ which are not an antipodal pair, a continuous path isThe denominator never vanishes: a zero would make $u$ and $v$ antipodal. If $v=-u$, choose a unit vector $w$ perpendicular to $u$ and concatenate the paths from $u$ to $w$ and from $w$ to $v$ of the same form. Thus $S^2$ is connected. The quotient map $q_S$ is continuous and surjective, so the continuous image of a connected space theorem proves that ${\mathbb{RP}}^2$ is connected. In fact composing the paths above with $q_S$ also proves path connectedness.