Calculating the simplicial homology of a tetrahedron.

algebraic-topologycw-complexeshomological-algebrahomology-cohomologysimplicial-stuff

I want to calculate the simplicial homology of the $\Delta$-complex figure on the right:

enter image description here

I believe that it consists of $2$ 0-simplices, four $1$-simplices and three $2$-simplices. So I am now in the step of the simplicial homology groups:

1- $H_0^{\Delta}(M) = \frac{\operatorname{Ker}\partial_0}{\operatorname{Im}\partial_1} \cong \mathbb Z$.

Also, it is clear that $\operatorname{Ker}\partial_1 \cong \mathbb Z,$ therefore

2- $H_1^{\Delta}(M) = \frac{\operatorname{Ker}\partial_1}{\operatorname{Im}\partial_2} \cong \frac{\langle a \rangle}{\langle -a + b – c, -a + d -c, -d -a +b \rangle}$ but then I think I have to use SNF to complete it, but I am not sure how to do this, could someone help me in this please?

3- $H_2^{\Delta}(K) = \frac{\operatorname{Ker}\partial_2}{\operatorname{Im}\partial_3} \cong \frac{\{0\}}{\{0\}} \cong 0$ as $\Delta_n(K) \cong \{0\}$ for $n \geq 3.$

also, $H_n^{\Delta}(K) \cong 0$ for $n \geq 3.$

Are my simplicial homology groups (other than H_1) correct?

Thanks in advance!

Best Answer

In this situation the simplices you have from the geometry generate the groups in the chain complex and $\partial_i$ are linear maps between. Therefore, choosing an ordering for each of these generating sets allows you to write $\partial_i$ as matrices, so the problem is reduced to standard linear algebra.

For example, let's call $A,B,C$ the vertices of the original triangle, that are sent to the same point, and $P$ the point in the middle. Then $C_0(M)$ is generate by $\{A,P\}$ (taken in this order), $C_1(M)$ is generate by $\{[A,B],[A,P],[B,P],[C,P]\}$, and finally $C_2(M)$ is generate by $\{[A,B,P],[B,C,P],[C,A,P]\}$.

Your computations, except $H_1$ are indeed correct, but you should justify that $\ker \partial_2=0$.

$\ker\partial_1$ is wrong and you can tell it already because you know that $\operatorname{Im}\partial_2\subset \ker\partial_1$. Indeed, using the basis choosen above we get $\partial_2=\begin{pmatrix} 1 & 1& 1\\ -1 & 0& 1\\ 1 & -1& 0\\ 0 & 1& -1 \end{pmatrix}$ and $ \partial_1=\begin{pmatrix} 0 & -1 & -1 & -1\\ 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 \end{pmatrix}$.

Therefore $\ker \partial_1=\left<\begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ 0\\ 0\\ \end{pmatrix},\begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ -1\\ 0\\ \end{pmatrix},\begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 1 \\ 0\\ -1\\ \end{pmatrix}\right>$.

Now you need to actually compute the quotient, for example using Smith Normal Form.