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Glue the outer circles of two closed annuli by the identity, and their inner circles by complex conjugation. The result is a Klein bottle. To see the gluing explicitly, let $r\in [1/2,1]$ and $z\in S^1$. Parametrize the first annulus by $(z,\tau )=(z,2r-1)$, with $0\le \tau \le 1$, and the second by $(z,\tau )=(z,3-2r)$, with $1\le \tau \le 2$. The outer-circle gluing identifies their common level $\tau =1$. The remaining gluing isThis is the mapping torus of reflection of the circle. The coordinate maps and their piecewise inverses agree on every identified boundary, so the universal property of the quotient topology gives inverse continuous maps between the two quotient descriptions. Gluing collars by the reflection supplies disc charts at the seam; thus it is a closed surface. Cutting the circle coordinate at one point gives a rectangle with one matching and one reversed edge pairing, the usual Klein-bottle model. Its Euler characteristic is zero and it is a nonorientable surface, so the classification theorem identifies it with the connected sum of two real projective planes.

Use the mapping cylinder convention $(x,1)\sim f(x)$ for $f:X\to Y$. Its bottom copy of $X$ is a retract precisely when $f$ has a left homotopy inverse $g:Y\to X$. A retraction restricted to $Y$ supplies $g$, and its values along the cylinder supply the homotopy from ${\mathrm{id}}_X$ to $gf$. Conversely use that homotopy on the cylinder and $g$ on $Y$; agreement at the attached end makes the map descend by the universal property of the quotient topology.

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

If $f:\tilde{X}\to Y$ is continuous, then $f\circ \pi$ is continuous because the quotient map $\pi$ is continuous by definition.

Conversely, suppose $f\circ \pi$ is continuous. For every open set $V\subseteq Y$,is open in $X$. The definition of the quotient topology then says that $f^{-1}(V)$ is open in $\tilde{X}$. HenceThis is the universal property of the quotient topology.

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.

DefineThis is continuous and takes values on the unit sphere. It agrees at $(0,y)$ and $(1,y)$, is constant on the bottom edge, and is constant on the top edge. Thus it is constant on every $R$-class, so the universal property of the quotient topology gives a continuous map

For $0<y<1$, the third coordinate $\cos (\pi y)$ determines $y$, and the first two coordinates determine $x$ modulo one. Consequently the only equal values of $f$ in the open strip arise from $x=0$ and $x=1$. At $y=0$ the whole edge maps to the north pole, and at $y=1$ the whole edge maps to the south pole. These are exactly the identifications defining $R$, so $\overline{f}$ is injective. The spherical-coordinate formula also shows that it is surjective.

The square is compact, hence its quotient $X/R$ is compact by part (ii), while $S^2$ is Hausdorff as a subspace of ${\mathbb{R}}^3$. The compact-to-Hausdorff continuous bijection theorem now makes $\overline{f}$ a homeomorphism. Geometrically, identifying the vertical sides produces a cylinder and collapsing each boundary circle to a point produces the suspension of a topological space $S^1$, which is $S^2$. This proves the square quotient model of the two-sphere.

A compact space is a topological space in which every open cover has a finite subcover. A Hausdorff space is one in which every two distinct points have disjoint open neighbourhoods. A homeomorphism is a bijection that is continuous and whose inverse is continuous.

For an equivalence relation $R$ on $X$, let $X/R$ be the set of equivalence classes and letThe quotient topology declares $U\subseteq X/R$ open exactly when $q^{-1}(U)$ is open in $X$. It follows directly from the definition that $q$ is continuous.

Suppose that the continuous map $f:X\to Y$ is constant on equivalence classes. The only possible factorisation iswhich is well-defined by the hypothesis and satisfies $F\circ q=f$. For every open $V\subseteq Y$,is open in $X$. The definition of the quotient topology therefore makes $F^{-1}(V)$ open, so $F$ is continuous. This proves the universal property of the quotient topology.

If $g$ is continuous, so is the composition $g\circ p$. Conversely, assume the composition is continuous. For every open set $V\subseteq Y$,is open in $X$. The quotient definition then says that $g^{-1}(V)$ is open in $X/\mathcal{R}$. Hence $g$ is continuous andThis is the universal property of the quotient topology.

Identify the bottom $j(X)=q(X\times \{0\})$ with $X$; its natural map $j$ is a topological embedding. To verify this directly, an open subset $O\subseteq X$ gives the saturated open subset $O\times [0,1/2)$ of the space before taking the quotient topology; its image is open in $M(f)$ and meets the bottom in $j(O)$.

Suppose first that there is a retraction $R:M(f)\to j(X)$. Define the continuous mapThenis a homotopy with $L(x,0)=x$ and $L(x,1)=g(f(x))$. Hence $gf\simeq {\mathrm{id}}_X$.

Conversely, suppose a continuous map $g:Y\to X$ has $gf\simeq {\mathrm{id}}_X$. Reverse the parameter if necessary to choose a homotopy $L$ with $L(x,0)=x$ and $L(x,1)=gf(x)$. SetAt the glued end, $j(L(x,1))=j(gf(x))$, exactly the value prescribed at $i(f(x))$. The universal property of the quotient topology therefore gives a continuous map $R:M(f)\to j(X)$. At the bottom, $R(j(x))=j(x)$, proving that $R$ is a retraction. We have established the mapping-cylinder bottom retraction criterion:

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.

If $g$ is continuous, then so is $g\circ p$, as a composition of continuous functions. Conversely, suppose $g\circ p$ is continuous. For an open subset $W\subseteq Z$,is open in $X$. The quotient topology criterion therefore says $g^{-1}(W)$ is open in $X/\mathcal{R}$. This proves continuity of $g$.This is the universal property of the quotient topology.

Use $F:[0,1]\to S^1$, $F(t)=e^{2\pi it}$. This is continuous, identifies the two endpoints, and is otherwise injective. Its fibres are exactly the equivalence classes for collapsing a subset to a point with $A=\{0,1\}$. Hence it factors uniquely through a bijectionBy the universal property of the quotient topology, $\overline{F}$ is continuous. The interval is compact, so its quotient $X_A$ is compact. The unit circle is Hausdorff. The compact-to-Hausdorff continuous bijection theorem now shows that $\overline{F}$ is a homeomorphism:Indeed the theorem makes the inverse continuous because images of closed subsets of a compact space are compact and hence closed in a Hausdorff target.

The set $X/\mathcal{R}$ consists of the equivalence classes $[x]$ for $\mathcal{R}$. The canonical surjection $q:X\to X/\mathcal{R}$, $q(x)=[x]$, defines its quotient topology:The quotient space includes this topology, not just the collection of equivalence classes.

Regard the circle as $S^1=\{z\in \mathbb{C}:|z|=1\}$ and use the continuous surjectionDefine $z\mathcal{R}w$ precisely when $h(z)=h(w)$. This is an equivalence relation, being equality of function values. Equivalently $w=z$ or $w=\overline{z}$, so the construction is the circle modulo reflection.

Since $h$ is constant on each equivalence class, it induces a bijectionIt is continuous by the universal property of the quotient topology, because $\overline{h}\circ q=h$ is continuous. The circle is compact by the Heine-Borel theorem, and its quotient space is a continuous image of a compact space, hence compact. The closed interval is Hausdorff. Part (a)(ii) therefore provesGeometrically, the equivalence relation folds the upper and lower semicircles together, retaining the two real endpoints separately.

The quotient is a Klein bottle, equivalently a connected sum of two real projective planes.

Use $z\in S^1$ for the angular coordinate and $r\in [1/2,1]$ for the radius. Parametrize the first annulus by $\tau =2r-1\in [0,1]$, running from its inner to its outer boundary. Parametrize the second by $\tau =3-2r\in [1,2]$, running from its outer to its inner boundary. The outer-boundary identity gluing puts them together at $\tau =1$. The remaining inner-boundary identification reverses the angle, so the entire quotient isThis is the mapping torus of reflection of a circle, after rescaling the interval.

To verify the homeomorphism, send $rz$ in the first annulus to $[z,2r-1]$ in $M$, and $rz$ in the second to $[z,3-2r]$. Both formulas are continuous, agree under the outer gluing, and agree under the reflected inner gluing. They therefore descend by the universal property of the quotient topology. Conversely, on the lower half of the cylinder send $(z,\tau )$ to the class of $((1+\tau )/2)z$ in the first annulus; on the upper half send it to the class of $((3-\tau )/2)z$ in the second. The formulas agree at $\tau =1$, and at the identified endpoints. The pasting lemma and the quotient property give a continuous inverse. Thus the two quotient descriptions are homeomorphic.

The quotient $M$ is compact. Its equivalence relation on the compact Hausdorff cylinder is closed: it is the union of the diagonal and the two graphs of the boundary reflection. Therefore $M$ is Hausdorff by compact Hausdorff quotient by a closed equivalence relation. Away from the seam its local charts are circle arcs times open intervals. At the seam, an arc near $z$ at $\tau =0$ glues to its conjugate arc at $\tau =2$; using the reflection as the transition gives another open rectangle. These are disc neighbourhoods, and a finite choice of such charts gives a countable basis. Hence $M$ is a closed surface.

Cutting the circle coordinate gives a rectangle with its vertical sides matched and its horizontal sides reflected. The reflection changes the sign of the angular coordinate while leaving the interval direction unchanged, so an orientation transported around the interval loop comes back reversed. Thus $M$ is a nonorientable surface. The rectangle quotient has one vertex, two edges and one face, giving Euler characteristic zero. By the classification theorem for closed combinatorial surfaces, the nonorientable genus is $k=2-\chi (M)=2$, so $M\cong {\mathbb{RP}}^2\#{\mathbb{RP}}^2$. This is the gluing annuli with one reflected boundary construction.

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 $H$.

Use positive indices $n\ge 1$ and write $p=(0,-1)\in S^1$. SetFor fixed $n$, this function is a homeomorphism from the unit circle to $C_n$: it scales its radius to $1/n$ and translates its centre to $(0,1/n)$. Thus it takes values in the Hawaiian earring $X$ and is surjective onto $X$. It is continuous on each open slice $\{n\}\times S^1$; since these slices form an open cover of $\mathbb{N}\times S^1$, $f$ is continuous on the whole product topology.

Distinct circles $C_n,C_m$ meet only at $o=(0,0)$. To see this directly, their equations areFor $m\ne n$, subtraction gives $y=0$, then $x=0$. Each slice contains exactly one preimage of $o$, namely $(n,p)$. Therefore the only nonsingleton fibre of $f$ is $A$.

Let $q:\mathbb{N}\times S^1\to (\mathbb{N}\times S^1)/A$ be the quotient map collapsing $A$. The universal property of the quotient topology supplies a unique continuous map $\bar{f}$ with $f=\bar{f}\circ q$. The fibre calculation proves injectivity, and surjectivity follows from that of $f$. Hence $\bar{f}$ is the required continuous bijection.

A quotient topological space is a quotient set equipped with the quotient topology. For a concrete gluing, give the closed interval $I=[0,1]$ its usual subspace topology, identify $0\sim 1$, and leave every interior point in its own singleton equivalence class. The resulting quotient space is a circle: the two endpoints become one point, while interior points remain distinct.

The exact continuous map to the unit circle in the plane isHere sine and cosine give $p(0)=p(1)=(1,0)$, and $p(s)=p(t)$ holds exactly when $s=t$ or $\{s,t\}=\{0,1\}$. Thus $p$ induces a bijection $\bar{p}:I/\sim \to S^1$. ^[ref] The universal property of the quotient topology makes $\bar{p}$ continuous. The quotient of a compact space is compact, and the unit circle is Hausdorff, so the compact-to-Hausdorff continuous bijection theorem makes $\bar{p}$ a homeomorphism. This verifies the topology, not merely the point identifications.

To inspect an open neighbourhood of the seam, choose $0<\epsilon <1/2$ and let $U_{\epsilon }=p([0,\epsilon )\cup (1-\epsilon ,1])$. Its full preimage isBoth pieces are open in the subspace topology on $I$, so $U_{\epsilon }$ is open in the circle. In contrast, $A=[0,\epsilon )$ is open in $I$, butis not open in $I$: it contains $1$ without any neighbourhood of $1$. Hence $p(A)$ is not open in the circle. A quotient map can therefore fail to be an open map.

For a continuous function $f:I\to \mathbb{R}$, the only gluing condition is $f(0)=f(1)$. For example, $f(t)=\cos (2\pi t)$ defines a continuous function on the circle, whereas $f(t)=t$ does not. This lets us use an interval as a coordinate for a periodic function while making the seam invisible. More general quotient spaces encode glued geometric pieces in the same way: describe continuous maps before gluing and check that their values agree on every equivalence class.

The Hausdorff property need not survive a quotient topology. In the non-Hausdorff quotient of the real line by rational translation, $x\sim y$ means $x-y\in \mathbb{Q}$. A nonempty open preimage $W$ must contain all translates by rational numbers of any open interval inside it. The density of the rational numbers then forces $W=\mathbb{R}$: for any $y$, some rational number $r$ has $y-r$ in that interval. Thus this quotient space has the indiscrete topology. The irrationality of the square root of two gives distinct equivalence classes for $0$ and $\sqrt{2}$, so this quotient space is not Hausdorff. Unlike the endpoint-gluing circle, this gluing identifies a dense subset with each point.

The quotient topology turns an instruction to glue points together into a precise topological space. Start with a topological space $(X,{\tau }_X)$ and an equivalence relation $\sim$. The quotient set $X/\sim$ consists of equivalence classes, and its canonical projection of a quotient set isThe quotient topology is defined by the rule using preimages of open sets:Thus a subset of the quotient space is open if and only if its entire preimage is open in $X$. Each fiber $q^{-1}(\{[x]\})$ is the whole equivalence class $[x]$, so the preimage includes every point glued to any of its members.^[ref]

This is the finest topology making $q$ a continuous map: every topology with that property can contain only subsets whose preimages are open. It really is a topology, because preimages preserve the empty set, the whole set, arbitrary unions, and finite intersections. The gluing example below shows why checking a complete preimage matters, especially at the seam.

The quotient topology also makes continuous maps out of a glued space easy to construct. A continuous map $f:X\to Z$ descends to a unique continuous map $\bar{f}:X/\sim \to Z$ exactly when it is constant on every fiber of $q$, meaning $x\sim y\Rightarrow f(x)=f(y)$. Define $\bar{f}([x])=f(x)$; the equivalence class representative cannot affect the answer. For every open set $V\subseteq Z$,The right side is open, so the quotient topology makes ${\bar{f}}^{-1}(V)$ open. Conversely, if $f=\bar{f}\circ q$ for a continuous map $\bar{f}$, then composition of continuous functions makes $f$ continuous, and equal equivalence classes force equal values. This is the universal property of the quotient topology. ^[ref]

A surjective continuous map is not automatically a quotient map. On the same two-point set $D=\{a,b\}$, take the identity map from the discrete topology to the indiscrete topology. It is continuous and surjective, but $\{a\}$ is not open in the target even though its preimage is open in the domain. The quotient topology for this identity map would be the discrete topology. Thus continuity supplies only one direction of the rule using preimages of open sets; a quotient map requires both.