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CorollaryStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedPipeline-generatedjudge pass (gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-09-12
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Cohomology over a field is dual to homology over that field

Statement

Assume AC. For every field k, every space X, and n≥0, evaluation gives a natural k-linear isomorphism Hn(X;k)→ ∼ Hom⁡k(Hn(X;k),k). There is no finite-dimensional hypothesis. The right side is the full algebraic dual.

Facts & Assumptions

[F1]

Singular cochain complex with coefficients identifies k-valued singular cochains with Hom⁡k(C∙(X;k),k); Singular cohomology with coefficients takes the cohomology quotient.

[F2]

Singular UCT extension from cycle projections gives the natural exact evaluation sequence over every PID, with the Ext term computed by restrictions from Zn−1 to Bn−1.

Proof

Given: k,X,n as stated and AC. Set C=C∙(X;k).

1.1F1F2given

A field is a PID: any nonzero ideal contains a nonzero a, hence 1=a−1a, and is the whole ring; the zero ideal is generated by zero. The complex C is nonnegative and free on the singular simplex sets. Thus [F2] applies, and [F1] identifies its middle group with Hn(X;k).

1.2F2F3given

Put B=Bn−1C⊆Z=Zn−1C. Apply [F3] first to the empty independent set in B to obtain a basis L of B, then to L⊆Z to extend it to a basis T of Z. For any linear ψ:B→k, define a map on T by its existing values ψ(l) on L and zero on T∖L. Every vector of Z has a unique finite basis expansion, so summing its coefficients against these values defines a linear g:Z→k with g∣B=ψ. Consequently restriction Hom⁡k(Z,k)→Hom⁡k(B,k) is onto, and the cokernel Ext term in [F2] is zero.

2.1F1F2step 1.1step 1.2

Exactness from step 1.1 and vanishing from step 1.2 make evaluation both injective and surjective. Its formula is [φ]↦([c]↦φ(c)), and its naturality in X is exactly the chain-map naturality in [F2]. The auxiliary bases used to prove Ext vanishing do not occur in this map. Arbitrary functionals are admitted: step 1.2 uses finite expansions of individual vectors, with no finite support requirement on the functional or finite bound on the basis.

3.1F1F2F3step 1.1step 1.2step 2.1∎

For n=0, B−1=Z−1=0 and the same result follows with empty bases. For empty X, both sides are zero. On a point in degree zero, evaluation identifies k with Hom⁡k(k,k) via multiplication by the value at the constant zero-simplex; the value 1 yields the identity. If Hn(X;k)=0, the isomorphism forces Hn(X;k)=0. AC is inherited in [F2] and used explicitly in both basis applications of step 1.2. No identification of an infinite-dimensional vector space with its double dual is made.

Depends on

Dependency tree · 2 levels

Sources