why is homology isomorphic to reduced homology plus Z?

redbowlover

Working through Hatcher...
For any space X, we have an augmented chain complex

[itex]...\rightarrow C_1(X) \rightarrow C_0(X)\rightarrow \mathbb{Z}\stackrel{\epsilon}{\rightarrow}0[/itex]
Hathcer says that since [itex]\epsilon[/itex] induces a map [itex]H_0(X)\rightarrow \mathbb{Z}[/itex] with kernel [itex]\tilde{H}_0(X)[/itex], we get an isomorphism [itex]H_0(X)\simeq \tilde{H}_0(X)\oplus \mathbb{Z}[/itex]

Where is this isomorphism coming from? I understand where the induced map on [itex]H_0(X)[/itex] comes from...

Thanks

quasar987

There is a short exact sequence 0-->H(reduced)_0-->H_0-->Z-->0, and Z being free, it splits. That is, H_0=H(reduced)_0 x Z.

redbowlover

thanks!