How Do Right-Side Homotopies Affect Homotopy Equivalence?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of homotopy equivalence in algebraic topology, specifically focusing on the implications of right-side homotopies. The original poster expresses difficulty in proving a relationship involving homotopies and their associativity.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand how to handle an arbitrary homotopy on the right and questions whether this involves the associativity of homotopies. Other participants provide algebraic manipulations to address transitivity and properties of homotopies.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring various algebraic properties related to homotopies, with some providing specific equations to illustrate their points. There is an ongoing examination of the implications of these properties, but no consensus has been reached on the original poster's question.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the framework of definitions provided in Hatcher's "Algebraic Topology," and there is an acknowledgment of the need for clarity regarding the handling of right-side homotopies.

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Homework Statement
"Show that the composition of homotopy equivalences X-->Y and Y-->Z is a homotopy equivalence X-->Z..."
Relevant Equations
F(x,t) = f_t(x)
"[A] map f: X-->Y is called a \mathbf{homotopy~equivalence} if there is a map g: Y-->X such that fg\cong\mathbb{1} and gf\cong\mathbb{1}," where "cong" means "is homotopic." "The spaces X and Y are said to be \mathbf{homotopy~equivalent}..." Additional definitions are in Hatcher, "Algebraic Topology", of which this is part of Exercise 3(a), p. 18. My difficulty is proving that if f\cong\mathbb{1} and h is another homotopy, then f = f\mathbb{1}h\congh. That is, how do we handle an arbitrary homotopy on the RIGHT? Does this involve "associativity" of homotopies? Thanks!
 
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Apologies for posting! With the conditions given, (hf)(gk) = h(fg)k\congh(\mathbb{1})k = hk\cong\mathbb{1} and (fh)(kg) = f(hk)g\congf\mathbb{1}g = fg\cong\mathbb{1}. This handles transitivity, while the reflexive and symmetric properties are routine. Thanks to everyone who read this!
 
Ben2 said:
Apologies for posting! With the conditions given, (hf)(gk) = h(fg)k\congh(\mathbb{1})k = hk\cong\mathbb{1} and (fh)(kg) = f(hk)g\congf\mathbb{1}g = fg\cong\mathbb{1}. This handles transitivity, while the reflexive and symmetric properties are routine. Thanks to everyone who read this!
Please wrap your Latex with ## or otherwise for easier reading.
 
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Ben2 said:
Apologies for posting! With the conditions given, ##(hf)(gk) = h(fg)k\cong h(\mathbb{1})k = hk\cong\mathbb{1}## and## (fh)(kg) = f(hk)g\cong f\mathbb{1}g = fg\cong\mathbb{1}##. This handles transitivity, while the reflexive and symmetric properties are routine. Thanks to everyone who read this!
 

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