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TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedSession-authored (Fable 5 assisted)precheck passaudited 2026-08-03
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Loop classes form the group π1(X,x0)\pi_1(X,x_0) under concatenation

Statement

For every pointed topological space (X,x0)(X,x_0), the product

[α][β]=[αβ][\alpha][\beta]=[\alpha*\beta]

is well defined and makes π1(X,x0)\pi_1(X,x_0) a group. Its identity is the class of the constant loop cx0c_{x_0}, and [α]1=[αˉ][\alpha]^{-1}=[\bar\alpha].

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A topological space XX, a basepoint x0Xx_0\in X, and based loops at x0x_0.

[L1]

The loop-class set, concatenation order, constant loop and reversed loop are those of Based loops and the fundamental group.

[L3]

A path homotopy is a continuous map I×IXI\times I\to X that fixes both path endpoints throughout the homotopy (Homotopies of continuous maps, homotopies relative to a subspace, and path homotopies relative to the endpoints).

[L5]

For continuous maps into the convex line R\mathbb R, the straight-line formula is a continuous homotopy (For continuous maps into a convex subset of Rn\mathbb{R}^n, the straight-line formula defines a continuous homotopy).

[L6]

Continuous maps defined on finitely many closed sets and agreeing on overlaps paste to a continuous map (Continuity may be checked on any open cover, and on any finite closed cover; composites of continuous maps are continuous, claim 3).

[L7]

A group operation is associative, has a two-sided identity and gives every element a two-sided inverse (Group and abelian group).

Proof

technique · direct
1.1

If AA is an endpoint-fixed homotopy from α0\alpha_0 to α1\alpha_1 and BB one from β0\beta_0 to β1\beta_1, define K(s,t)=A(2s,t)K(s,t)=A(2s,t) for s12s\leq\tfrac12 and K(s,t)=B(2s1,t)K(s,t)=B(2s-1,t) for s12s\geq\tfrac12; the clauses agree because A(1,t)=x0=B(0,t)A(1,t)=x_0=B(0,t), and [L2], [L4], and [L6] make KK continuous, so α0β0\alpha_0*\beta_0 and α1β1\alpha_1*\beta_1 are endpoint-homotopic. Thus the proposed product is independent of representatives.

L1L2L3L4L6
1.2

If ϕ:II\phi:I\to I is continuous with ϕ(0)=0\phi(0)=0 and ϕ(1)=1\phi(1)=1, then [L5] makes (s,t)(1t)s+tϕ(s)(s,t)\mapsto(1-t)s+t\phi(s) continuous. Composing with α\alpha by [L4] gives a continuous H(s,t):=α((1t)s+tϕ(s))H(s,t):=\alpha((1-t)s+t\phi(s)); it takes values in II, fixes s=0,1s=0,1, and joins α\alpha to αϕ\alpha\circ\phi. Hence endpoint-fixing reparametrisation preserves a path class.

L3L4L5
1.3

The formula H(s,t)=α(2s(1t))H(s,t)=\alpha(2s(1-t)) for s12s\leq\tfrac12 and H(s,t)=α(2(1s)(1t))H(s,t)=\alpha(2(1-s)(1-t)) for s12s\geq\tfrac12 is continuous by [L2], [L4], and [L6], fixes both endpoints at x0x_0, starts at ααˉ\alpha*\bar\alpha, and ends at cx0c_{x_0}; applying the same construction to αˉ\bar\alpha contracts αˉα\bar\alpha*\alpha.

L1L2L3L4L6
2.1

Put w:=(αβ)γw:=(\alpha*\beta)*\gamma and define ϕ(s)=s/2\phi(s)=s/2 for 0s120\leq s\leq\tfrac12, ϕ(s)=s14\phi(s)=s-\tfrac14 for 12s34\tfrac12\leq s\leq\tfrac34, and ϕ(s)=2s1\phi(s)=2s-1 for 34s1\tfrac34\leq s\leq1; [L2] makes this continuous, the clauses agree at the seams, ϕ\phi fixes 0,10,1, and direct substitution gives wϕ=α(βγ)w\circ\phi=\alpha*(\beta*\gamma), so step 1.2 proves associativity on classes.

step 1.2L1L2
2.2

For ϕR(s)=min{2s,1}\phi_R(s)=\min\{2s,1\} one has αϕR=αcx0\alpha\circ\phi_R=\alpha*c_{x_0}, and for ϕL(s)=max{2s1,0}\phi_L(s)=\max\{2s-1,0\} one has αϕL=cx0α\alpha\circ\phi_L=c_{x_0}*\alpha; these continuous endpoint-fixing maps and step 1.2 show that [cx0][c_{x_0}] is a two-sided identity.

step 1.2L1L2
3.1

Step 1.1 gives a well-defined operation, step 2.1 gives associativity, step 2.2 gives the identity, and step 1.3 gives the two-sided inverse [αˉ][\bar\alpha]; these are exactly the axioms in [L7], so π1(X,x0)\pi_1(X,x_0) is a group.

step 1.1step 1.3step 2.1step 2.2L7

Depends on

Used by

Cited to discharge well-definedness by Based loops and the fundamental group.

Dependency tree · next 3 levels

Direct dependencies and their dependencies through the next three levels: 125 results over 18 levels. An arrow runs from a result to what uses it, and this result sits at the bottom with a heavier outline. Click the chart to enlarge it.

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