princy
- 14
- 0
is there any specific name for a coffee cup handle in mathematics?
The discussion revolves around the mathematical terminology related to the handle of a coffee cup, particularly in the context of topology. Participants explore the geometric and topological properties of the coffee cup handle and its equivalence to various mathematical structures.
Participants express differing views on the terminology and significance of the coffee cup handle in topology. There is no consensus on a specific name or the relevance of the handle when considered independently.
Some participants highlight that a solid handle by itself is contractible, which may limit its naming significance in mathematics. The discussion also touches on the topological implications of attaching handles to other spaces.
sutupidmath said:Torus
redbowlover said:i'm curious about the context of the question. a solid handle by itself is contractible and so mathematicians wouldn't bother giving it a name. but we often refer to "handles" when we are attaching them to other spaces. a coffee cup handle would be a 3-handle...if you attached a 3-handle to a solid ball you get a torus. in this context it makes sense to name the "handle". but i would say in general, the coffee cup handle is trivial. anyone agree?