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Seifert-Van Kampen theorem

From Mathepedia, the mathematical encyclopedia

Statement

Let X be a topological space and let 𝒰={Ui}iI be an open cover of X.

Let be the set of all finite non-empty intersections of members of 𝒰: ={iJUi|JI,|J|<}.

Regard as a category whose objects are the elements of and in which there is a unique morphism VW whenever VW.

Let Π1:𝖦𝗉𝖽 be the functor that sends each V to its fundamental groupoid Π1(V) and each inclusion VW to the induced morphism of groupoids.

Then the canonical morphism colimVΠ1(V)Π1(X) is an isomorphism of groupoids.