A Guide to the Classification Theorem for Compact Surfaces - Dianna Xu

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Résumé :
This welcome boon for students of algebraic topology cuts a much-needed central path between other texts whose treatment of the classification theorem for compact surfaces is either too formalized and complex for those without detailed background knowledge, or too informal to afford students a comprehensive insight into the subject. Its dedicated, student-centred approach details a near-complete proof of this theorem, widely admired for its efficacy and formal beauty. The authors present the technical tools needed to deploy the method effectively as well as demonstrating their use in a clearly structured, worked example. Ideal for students whose mastery of algebraic topology may be a work-in-progress, the text introduces key notions such as fundamental groups, homology groups, and the Euler-Poincar? characteristic. These prerequisites are the subject of detailed appendices that enable focused, discrete learning where it is required, without interrupting the carefully planned structure of the core exposition. Gently guiding readers through the principles, theory, and applications of the classification theorem, the authors aim to foster genuine confidence in its use and in so doing encourage readers to move on to a deeper exploration of the versatile and valuable techniques available in algebraic topology.

Sommaire:
Jean Gallier is Professor of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. His research interests include geometry and its applications, geometric modeling, and differential geometry. He is also a member of the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Mathematics, and its Center for Human Modelling and Simulation. Jocelyn Quaintance is postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who has contributed to the fields of combinatorial identities and power product expansions. Her recent mathematical books investigate the interplay between mathematics and computer science. Covering areas as diverse as differential geometry, linear algebra, optimization theory, and Fourier analysis, her writing illuminates the mathematics behind topics relevant to engineering, computer vision, and robotics....