Show that every map(maybe continuous)

[Stiger]

If dimM=m<p, show that every map(maybe continuous) M^m -> S^p is homotopic to a constant.


This is the problem 5 in chap8. of 'topology from the differentiable viewpoint(Milnor)'.


I proved it when the map is not onto. But I think it can be onto.
Please help me.

 

[quasar987]

It can indeed be onto. For instance, for M=S^1 and S^p=S², take f:S^1-->[0,1]² one of the infamous space-filling curve (loop) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-filling_curve). Then make [0,1]² into S² by identifying all the edges together. Then p o f:S^1-->S² is a continuous surjection, where p:[0,1]²-->[0,1]²/~=S² is the quotient map.

 

[Office_Shredder]

If dimM=m<p, show that every map(maybe continuous) M^m -> S^p is homotopic to a constant.


This is the problem 5 in chap8. of 'topology from the differentiable viewpoint(Milnor)'.


I proved it when the map is not onto. But I think it can be onto.
Please help me.

Is the map maybe supposed to be differentiable?

 

[zhentil]

Maybe all you need is that it's homotopic to a smooth map :)

(Then Sard's Theorem)