Homeomorphism between unit square and unit disc

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a bijective function from the unit square [0,1] x [0,1] to the closed unit disc D. Participants are exploring the concept of homeomorphism between these two spaces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants have presented several continuous surjective functions that are not injective, questioning the existence of an injective function. They discuss the mapping of the unit circle to the unit square and the necessary transformations to achieve this.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes various attempts at finding suitable functions, with some participants suggesting methods of mapping the boundaries and interiors of the shapes. There is acknowledgment of the challenges in achieving injectivity, and one participant expresses gratitude for the assistance received.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of a misunderstanding regarding the size of the unit square, indicating that assumptions about the dimensions may be under discussion. The nature of the problem involves continuous functions and the properties of homeomorphism.

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Homework Statement


I want to find a bijective function from [0,1] x [0,1] -> D, where D is the closed unit disc.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I have been able to find two continuous surjective functions, but neither is injective. they are f_1(s,t)=\left((1-s)\cos{(2\pi t)}+s,(1-s)\sin{(2\pi t)}\right) and f_2(s,t)=\left((1-s)\cos{(2\pi t)},(1-s)\sin{(2\pi t)}\right). I can't think of one that is injective, but there should be one because these two spaces are homeomorphic, right?
 
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I even have another: f_3(s,t)=\left(\sin{(2\pi s)}\cos{(2\pi t)},\sin{(2\pi s)}\sin{(2\pi t)}\right). However, this is also not injective since all points with s=0 are mapped to the origin.
 
Imagine drawing the unit circle inside of the unit disc. For a given angle t from the x-axis, by what factor do you need to multiply the unit vector in that direction to get it to reach the unit square?

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1108/circlesquare.jpg

Once you map the boundary to the boundary, map the interior to the interior by just stretching a point in the circle by the same factor that boundary point was stretched. You've probably heard of topology as 'rubber sheet geometry' and this is the most basic case of that; you literally want to stretch the circle to cover the square

EDIT: Whoops.. I realized my square is too big here. For some reason I was thinking the unit square would have size two. The basic idea is the same though, center the two at the origin and ask what you need to multiply the boundary of the circle by to make it map to the boundary of the square
 
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Thanks for the help! I got it now.
 

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