[Math] How to prove that $S^1\vee S^2\vee S^3$ and $S^1\times S^2$ are not homotopy equivalent using homology and cohomology ring respectively

algebraic-topology

How do I prove that $S^1\vee S^2\vee S^3$ and $S^1\times S^2$ are not homotopic using homology and cohomology ring respectively?

They have the same homology groups by Kunneth. There is an exercise in Rotman's algebraic topology to prove that these are not homotopic using homology in the chapter of Kunneth formula of homology groups. After that, this again appears in an exercise in the chapter devoted to cup products.

I'm especially curious how to prove this using only homology, because I have never seen a case that two spaces are not homotopic but having the same homology groups.

Thank you in advance.

Best Answer

If you're allowed to do cohomology, note that $H^*(S^1 \vee S^2 \vee S^3)$ is isomorphic to the direct sum $H^*(S^1)\oplus H^*(S^2) \oplus H^*(S^3)$, so cup product of the generators of $H^1$ and $H^2$ is trivial. Whereas cup product of the generators of $H^1$ and $H^2$ is evidently nontrivial for $S^1 \times S^2$, by Kunneth formula if you wish.

Doing this with homology is a bit tricky: note that universal cover of $S^1 \vee S^2 \vee S^3$ is the topological space which looks like $\Bbb R$ with a copy of $S^2 \vee S^3$ attached to each integer point in $\Bbb R$. This is homotopy equivalent to an infinite wedge of $S^2 \vee S^3$'s, hence the homology group $H_3$ is nontrivial - in fact isomorphic to $\bigoplus \Bbb Z$

On the other universal cover of $S^1 \times S^2$ is $\Bbb R \times S^2$, which is homotopy equivalent to $S^2$. That has trivial homology on dimension $3$, so is not homotopy equivalent to the universal cover of $S^1 \vee S^2 \vee S^3$. Thus, $S^1 \times S^2$ is not homotopy equivalent to $S^1 \vee S^2 \vee S^3$ either.