Relative chain complex ($C_{\ast }(X,A)$)

For a subspace $A\subseteq X$, the relative chain complex is the quotient group in each degree,with boundary operator $[c]\mapsto [\partial c]$. This is well defined because $C_{\ast }(A)$ is a chain subcomplex of $C_{\ast }(X)$.

A relative cycle for $A\subset B$ is a chain $b\in C_n(B)$ whose boundary lies in $A$. Equivalently its coset is a homological cycle in $C_{\ast }(B,A)$. Unlike an absolute cycle, its boundary need not be zero. It represents a relative homology class.

If $L$ is a simplicial subcomplex of $K$, thenIts homology is the simplicial relative homology $H_k(K,L)$.