Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Honors Thesis (Open Access)

Department

Colby College. Mathematics and Statistics Dept.

Advisor(s)

Scott Taylor

Second Advisor

Fernando Gouvea

Abstract

This thesis presents several undergraduate and graduate level concepts in the fields of algebraic topology and topological group theory in a manner which requires very little mathematical background of the reader. It uses non-rigorous interpretations of concepts while introducing the reader to the rigorous ideas with which they are associated. In order to give the reader an idea of how the fields of algebra and topology are closely affiliated, the paper goes over five main concepts, the fundamental group, homology, cohomology, Eilenberg-Maclane spaces, and group dimension.

Keywords

algebraic topology, homology, cohomology, fundamental group, topological group theory, dimensions of groups

Share

COinS