AlgTop0d: Introduction to Algebraic Topology (last)

This is the fourth and final video of the introductory lecture of a beginner's course in Algebraic Topology. The subject is one of the most dynamic and exciting areas of 20th century mathematics, with its roots in the work of Riemann, Klein and Poincare in the latter half of the 19th century. This first lecture will outline the main topics, and will present three well-known but perhaps challenging problems for you to try.

The course is for 3rd or 4th year undergraduate math students, but anyone with some mathematical maturity and a little background or willingness to learn group theory can benefit. The subject is particularly important for modern physics. Our treatment will have many standard features, but also some novelties.

The lecturer is Assoc Prof N J Wildberger of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at UNSW, Sydney, Australia.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Mathematics
• algebraic
• topology
• course
• Wildberger
• UNSW
• group
• theory
• surfaces
• ZIP
• proof
• introduction

[STF413]

@comecra85

Prob. 3 is a quite well-known puzzle, though I'm unable to remember its name (if it has any official name at all). Here is a solution video: watch?v=ImMue-rCmo4 (but I'm not convinced that it's called "Wedding vows" -- might just be some marketing name)

[jamma246]

Sorry, you obviously mean the 3rd puzzle. I think you are right, you can't do it in three dimensions. I think that it is equivalent to unknotting a certain knot, (a double trefoil knot?) and I don't think that it can be done. Saying that, I'm not 100%, will give it a go when I get some time, and string!

[jamma246]

@comecra85 You mean the pencil one? It's not really that hard, try thinking about starting with the pencil attached and undoing it. Then to attach it you just do the reverse.

[iHeeHaw]

very interesting lecture.

[comecra85]

unless it's magic the puzzle is impossible