View source for Quotient space (topology)

{{Short description|Topological space construction}}

[[Image:Disk to Sphere using Quotient Space.gif|thumb|Illustration of the construction of a topological sphere as the quotient space of a [[Disk (mathematics)|disk]], by ''gluing'' together to a single point the points (in blue) of the boundary of the disk.]]
In [[Topology|topology]] and related areas of [[Mathematics|mathematics]], the '''quotient space''' of a [[Topological space|topological space]] under a given [[Equivalence relation|equivalence relation]] is a new topological space constructed by endowing the [[Quotient set|quotient set]] of the original topological space with the '''quotient topology''', that is, with the finest topology that makes continuous the canonical projection map (the function that maps points to their [[Equivalence class|equivalence class]]es). In other words, a subset of a quotient space is [[Open set|open]] if and only if its preimage under the canonical projection map is open in the original topological space.

Intuitively speaking, the points of each equivalence class are {{em|identified}} or "glued together" for forming a new topological space. For example, identifying the points of a [[Sphere|sphere]] that belong to the same [[Diameter|diameter]] produces the [[Projective plane|projective plane]] as a quotient space.

==Definition==

Let <math>X</math> be a [[Topological space|topological space]], and let <math>\sim</math> be an [[Equivalence relation|equivalence relation]] on <math>X.</math> The [[Quotient set|quotient set]] <math>Y = X/{\sim}</math> is the set of [[Equivalence class|equivalence class]]es of elements of <math>X.</math> The equivalence class of <math>x \in X</math> is denoted <math>[x].</math>   

The construction of <math>Y</math> defines a canonical [[Surjective function|surjection]] <math display="inline">q:X\ni x\mapsto[x]\in Y.</math>  As discussed below, <math>q</math> is a quotient mapping, commonly called the canonical quotient map, or canonical projection map, associated to <math>X/{\sim}.</math>

The '''quotient space''' under <math>\sim</math> is the set <math>Y</math> equipped with the '''quotient topology''', whose [[Open set|open set]]s are those [[Subset|subset]]s <math display="inline">U \subseteq Y</math> whose preimage <math>q^{-1}(U)</math> is [[Open set|open]].  In other words, <math>U</math> is open in the quotient topology on <math>X / {\sim}</math> if and only if {{Nowrap|<math display=inline>\{ x \in X : [x] \in U \}</math>}} is open in <math>X.</math>  Similarly, a subset <math>S \subseteq Y</math> is [[Closed set|closed]] if and only if <math>\{ x \in X : [x] \in S \}</math> is closed in <math>X.</math>

The quotient topology is the [[Final topology|final topology]] on the quotient set, with respect to the map <math>x \mapsto [x].</math>

==Quotient map==

A map <math>f : X \to Y</math> is a '''quotient map''' (sometimes called an '''identification map'''{{sfn|Brown|2006|p=103}}) if it is [[Surjective function|surjective]] and <math>Y</math> is equipped with the [[Final topology|final topology]] induced by <math>f.</math>  The latter condition admits two more-elementary phrasings: a subset <math>V \subseteq Y</math> is open (closed) if and only if <math>f^{-1}(V)</math> is open (resp. closed).  Every quotient map is continuous but not every continuous map is a quotient map. 

'''Saturated sets'''

A subset <math>S</math> of <math>X</math> is called '''[[Saturated set|saturated]]''' (with respect to <math>f</math>) if it is of the form <math>S = f^{-1}(T)</math> for some set <math>T,</math> which is true if and only if <math>f^{-1}(f(S)) = S.</math>
The assignment <math>T \mapsto f^{-1}(T)</math> establishes a [[Bijection|one-to-one correspondence]] (whose inverse is <math>S \mapsto f(S)</math>) between subsets <math>T</math> of <math>Y = f(X)</math> and saturated subsets of <math>X.</math> 
With this terminology, a surjection <math>f : X \to Y</math> is a quotient map if and only if for every {{em|saturated}} subset <math>S</math> of <math>X,</math> <math>S</math> is open in <math>X</math> if and only if <math>f(S)</math> is open in <math>Y.</math> 
In particular, open subsets of <math>X</math> that are {{em|not}} saturated have no impact on whether the function <math>f</math> is a quotient map (or, indeed, continuous: a function <math>f : X \to Y</math> is continuous if and only if, for every saturated <math display="inline">S\subseteq X</math> such that <math>f(S)</math> is open in {{Nowrap|<math display=inline>f(X)</math>,}} the set <math>S</math> is open in {{Nowrap|<math display=inline>X</math>).}}  

Indeed, if <math>\tau</math> is a topology on <math>X</math> and <math>f : X \to Y</math> is any map then set <math>\tau_f</math> of all <math>U \in \tau</math> that are saturated subsets of <math>X</math> forms a topology on <math>X.</math> If <math>Y</math> is also a topological space then <math>f : (X, \tau) \to Y</math> is a quotient map (respectively, continuous) if and only if the same is true of <math>f : \left(X, \tau_f\right) \to Y.</math>

'''Quotient space of fibers characterization'''

Given an [[Equivalence relation|equivalence relation]] <math>\,\sim\,</math> on <math>X,</math> denote the [[Equivalence class|equivalence class]] of a point <math>x \in X</math> by <math>[x] := \{z \in X : z \sim x\}</math> and let <math>X /{\sim} := \{[x] : x \in X\}</math> denote the set of equivalence classes. The map <math>q : X \to X /{\sim}</math> that sends points to their [[Equivalence class|equivalence class]]es (that is, it is defined by <math>q(x) := [x]</math> for every <math>x \in X</math>) is called {{em|the canonical map}}. It is a surjective map and for all <math>a, b \in X,</math> <math>a \,\sim\, b</math> if and only if <math>q(a) = q(b);</math> consequently, <math>q(x) = q^{-1}(q(x))</math> for all <math>x \in X.</math> In particular, this shows that the set of equivalence class <math>X /{\sim}</math> is exactly the set of fibers of the canonical map <math>q.</math>
If <math>X</math> is a topological space then giving <math>X /{\sim}</math> the quotient topology induced by <math>q</math> will make it into a quotient space and make <math>q : X \to X /{\sim}</math> into a quotient map. 
[[Up to]] a [[Homeomorphism|homeomorphism]], this construction is representative of all quotient spaces; the precise meaning of this is now explained. 

Let <math>f : X \to Y</math> be a surjection between topological spaces (not yet assumed to be continuous or a quotient map) and declare for all <math>a, b \in X</math> that <math>a \,\sim\, b</math> if and only if <math>f(a) = f(b).</math> Then <math>\,\sim\,</math> is an equivalence relation on <math>X</math> such that for every <math>x \in X,</math> <math>[x] = f^{-1}(f(x)),</math> which implies that <math>f([x])</math> (defined by <math>f([x]) = \{ \,f(z)\, : z \in [x]\}</math>) is a singleton set; denote the unique element in <math>f([x])</math> by <math>\hat{f}([x])</math> (so by definition, <math>f([x]) = \{ \,\hat{f}([x])\, \}</math>). 
The assignment <math>[x] \mapsto \hat{f}([x])</math> defines a [[Bijection|bijection]] <math>\hat{f} : X /{\sim} \;\to\; Y</math> between the fibers of <math>f</math> and points in <math>Y.</math> 
Define the map <math>q : X \to X / {\sim}</math> as above (by <math>q(x) := [x]</math>) and give <math>X / {\sim}</math> the quotient topology induced by <math>q</math> (which makes <math>q</math> a quotient map). These maps are related by: <math display=block>f = \hat{f} \circ q \quad \text{ and } \quad q = \hat{f}^{-1} \circ f.</math> 
From this and the fact that <math>q : X \to X / {\sim}</math> is a quotient map, it follows that <math>f : X \to Y</math> is continuous if and only if this is true of <math>\hat{f} : X / {\sim} \;\to\; Y.</math> Furthermore, <math>f : X \to Y</math> is a quotient map if and only if <math>\hat{f} : X / {\sim} \;\to\; Y</math> is a [[Homeomorphism|homeomorphism]] (or equivalently, if and only if both <math>\hat{f}</math> and its inverse are continuous). 

===Related definitions===

A '''{{visible anchor|hereditarily quotient map|Hereditarily quotient map|Hereditarily quotient}}''' is a surjective map <math>f : X \to Y</math> with the property that for every subset <math>T \subseteq Y,</math> the restriction <math>f\big\vert_{f^{-1}(T)} ~:~ f^{-1}(T) \to T</math> is also a quotient map. 
There exist quotient maps that are not hereditarily quotient.

==Examples==

* '''Gluing'''.  Topologists talk of gluing points together.  If <math>X</math> is a topological space, gluing the points <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> in <math>X</math> means considering the quotient space obtained from the equivalence relation <math>a \sim b</math> if and only if <math>a = b</math> or <math>a = x, b = y</math> (or <math>a = y, b = x</math>).
* Consider the unit square <math>I^2 = [0, 1] \times [0, 1]</math> and the equivalence relation ~ generated by the requirement that all boundary points be equivalent, thus identifying all boundary points to a single equivalence class. Then <math>I^2 / \sim</math> is homeomorphic to the [[Sphere|sphere]] <math>S^2.</math>
[[File:Collapsing a subspace.svg|thumb|For example, <math>[0,1]/\{0,1\}</math> is homeomorphic to the circle <math>S^1.</math>]]
*'''[[Adjunction space]]'''. More generally, suppose <math>X</math> is a space and <math>A</math> is a subspace of <math>X.</math> One can identify all points in <math>A</math> to a single equivalence class and leave points outside of <math>A</math> equivalent only to themselves. The resulting quotient space is denoted <math>X/A.</math> The 2-sphere is then homeomorphic to a closed disc with its boundary identified to a single point: <math>D^2 / \partial{D^2}.</math>
* Consider the set <math>\R</math> of [[Real number|real number]]s with the ordinary topology, and write <math>x \sim y</math> [[If and only if|if and only if]] <math>x - y</math> is an [[Integer|integer]]. Then the quotient space <math>X / {\sim}</math> is homeomorphic to the [[Unit circle|unit circle]] <math>S^1</math> via the homeomorphism which sends the equivalence class of <math>x</math> to <math>\exp(2 \pi i x).</math>
* A generalization of the previous example is the following: Suppose a [[Topological group|topological group]] <math>G</math> [[Group action (mathematics)|acts]] continuously on a space <math>X.</math> One can form an equivalence relation on <math>X</math> by saying points are equivalent if and only if they lie in the same orbit. The quotient space under this relation is called the '''orbit space''', denoted <math>X / G.</math> In the previous example <math>G = \Z</math> acts on <math>\R</math> by translation. The orbit space <math>\R / \Z</math> is homeomorphic to <math>S^1.</math>
**''Note'': The notation <math>\R / \Z</math> is somewhat ambiguous. If <math>\Z</math> is understood to be a group acting on <math>\R</math> via addition, then the [[Quotient group|quotient]] is the circle. However, if <math>\Z</math> is thought of as a topological subspace of <math>\R</math> (that is identified as a single point) then the quotient <math>\{ \Z \} \cup \{ \,\{r\} : r \in \R \setminus \Z \}</math> (which is [[Bijection|identifiable]] with the set <math>\{ \Z \} \cup (\R \setminus \Z)</math>) is a countably infinite bouquet of circles joined at a single point <math>\Z.</math>
* This next example shows that it is in general {{em|not}} true that if <math>q : X \to Y</math> is a quotient map then every convergent sequence (respectively, every convergent [[Net (mathematics)|net]]) in <math>Y</math> has a [[Lift (mathematics)|lift]] (by <math>q</math>) to a convergent sequence (or convergent net) in <math>X.</math> Let <math>X = [0, 1]</math> and <math>\,\sim ~=~ \{ \,\{ 0, 1 \} \, \} ~\cup~ \left\{ \{ x \} : x \in (0, 1) \, \right\}.</math> Let <math>Y :=  X / {\sim}</math> and let <math>q : X \to  X / {\sim}</math> be the quotient map <math>q(x) := [x],</math> so that <math>q(0) = q(1) = \{ 0, 1 \}</math> and <math>q(x) = \{ x \}</math> for every <math>x \in (0, 1).</math> The map <math>h :  X / {\sim}\to S^1 \subseteq \Complex</math> defined by <math>h([x]) := e^{2 \pi i x}</math> is well-defined (because <math>e^{2 \pi i (0)} = 1 = e^{2 \pi i (1)}</math>) and a [[Homeomorphism|homeomorphism]]. Let <math>I = \N</math> and let <math>a_{\bull} := \left(a_i\right)_{i \in I} \text{ and } b_{\bull} := \left(b_i\right)_{i \in I}</math> be any sequences (or more generally, any nets) valued in <math>(0, 1)</math> such that <math>a_{\bull} \to 0 \text{ and } b_{\bull} \to 1</math> in <math>X = [0, 1].</math> Then the sequence <math display=block>y_1 := q\left(a_1\right), y_2 := q\left(b_1\right), y_3 := q\left(a_2\right), y_4 := q\left(b_2\right), \ldots</math> converges to <math>[0] = [1]</math> in <math> X / {\sim}</math> but there does not exist any convergent lift of this sequence by the quotient map <math>q</math> (that is, there is no sequence <math>s_{\bull} = \left(s_i\right)_{i \in I}</math> in <math>X</math> that both converges to some <math>x \in X</math> and satisfies <math>y_i = q\left(s_i\right)</math> for every <math>i \in I</math>). This counterexample can be generalized to [[Net (mathematics)|nets]] by letting <math>(A, \leq)</math> be any [[Directed set|directed set]], and making <math>I := A \times \{ 1, 2 \}</math> into a net by declaring that for any <math>(a, m), (b, n) \in I,</math> <math>(m, a) \; \leq \; (n, b)</math> holds if and only if both (1) <math>a \leq b,</math> and (2) if <math>a = b \text{ then } m \leq n;</math> then the <math>A</math>-indexed net defined by letting <math>y_{(a, m)}</math> equal <math>a_i \text{ if } m = 1</math> and equal to <math>b_i \text{ if } m = 2</math> has no lift (by <math>q</math>) to a convergent <math>A</math>-indexed net in <math>X = [0, 1].</math>

==Properties==

Quotient maps <math>q : X \to Y</math> are characterized among surjective maps by the following property: if <math>Z</math> is any topological space and <math>f : Y \to Z</math> is any function, then <math>f</math> is continuous if and only if <math>f \circ q</math> is continuous.

[[Image:QuotientSpace-01.svg|center|Characteristic property of the quotient topology]]

The quotient space <math>X /{\sim}</math> together with the quotient map <math>q : X \to X /{\sim}</math> is characterized by the following [[Universal property|universal property]]: if <math>g : X \to Z</math> is a continuous map such that <math>a \sim b</math> implies <math>g(a) = g(b)</math> for all <math>a, b \in X,</math> then there exists a unique continuous map <math>f : X / {\sim} \to Z</math> such that <math>g = f \circ q.</math> In other words, the following diagram commutes:

[[File:Universal Property of Quotient Spaces.svg|center|frameless]]

One says that <math>g</math> ''descends to the quotient'' for expressing this, that is that it factorizes through the quotient space. The continuous maps defined on <math>X /{\sim}</math> are, therefore, precisely those maps which arise from continuous maps defined on <math>X</math> that respect the equivalence relation (in the sense that they send equivalent elements to the same image). This criterion is copiously used when studying quotient spaces.

Given a continuous surjection <math>q : X \to Y</math> it is useful to have criteria by which one can determine if <math>q</math> is a quotient map. Two sufficient criteria are that <math>q</math> be open or closed. Note that these conditions are only sufficient, not necessary. It is easy to construct examples of quotient maps that are neither open nor closed. For topological groups, the quotient map is open.

==Compatibility with other topological notions==

Separation

* In general, quotient spaces are ill-behaved with respect to separation axioms. The separation properties of <math>X</math> need not be inherited by <math> X / {\sim}</math> and <math> X / {\sim}</math> may have separation properties not shared by <math>X.</math>
* <math>X / {\sim}</math> is a [[T1 space]] if and only if every equivalence class of <math>\,\sim\,</math> is closed in <math>X.</math>
* If the quotient map is open, then <math> X / {\sim}</math> is a [[Hausdorff space]] if and only if ~ is a closed subset of the product space <math>X \times X.</math>

[[Connectedness]]

* If a space is connected or path connected, then so are all its quotient spaces.
* A quotient space of a simply connected or contractible space need not share those properties.

[[Compact space|Compactness]]

* If a space is compact, then so are all its quotient spaces.
* A quotient space of a locally compact space need not be locally compact.

[[Physics:Dimension|Dimension]]

* The topological dimension of a quotient space can be more (as well as less) than the dimension of the original space; [[Space-filling curve|space-filling curve]]s provide such examples.

==See also==

'''Topology'''

* {{annotated link|Covering space}}
* {{annotated link|Disjoint union (topology)}}
* {{annotated link|Final topology}}
* {{annotated link|Mapping cone (topology)}}
* {{annotated link|Topological space}}

'''Algebra'''

* {{annotated link|Quotient category}}
* {{annotated link|Quotient group}}
* {{annotated link|Quotient space (linear algebra)}}
* {{annotated link|Mapping cone (homological algebra)}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{reflist|group=proof}}

==References==

* {{Bourbaki General Topology Part I Chapters 1-4}} <!-- {{sfn|Bourbaki|1989|p=}} -->
* {{Bourbaki General Topology Part II Chapters 5-10}} <!-- {{sfn|Bourbaki|1989|p=}} -->
* {{Citation|isbn=1-4196-2722-8|title=Topology and Groupoids|last1=Brown|first1=Ronald|year=2006|url=http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~mas010/topgpds.html|publisher=Booksurge|}} 
* {{Dixmier General Topology}} <!-- {{sfn|Dixmier|1984|p=}} -->
* {{Dugundji Topology}} <!-- {{sfn|Dugundji|1966|p=}} -->
* {{Kelley General Topology}} <!-- {{sfn|Kelley|1975|p=}} -->
* {{Munkres Topology|edition=2}} <!-- {{sfn|Munkres|2000|p=}} -->
* {{Willard General Topology}} <!-- {{sfn|Willard|2004|p=}} -->
* {{Cite book|last=Willard|first=Stephen|title=General Topology|year=1970|publisher=Addison-Wesley|location=Reading, MA|isbn=0-486-43479-6}}

[[Category:Theory of continuous functions]]
[[Category:General topology]]
[[Category:Group actions (mathematics)]]
[[Category:Quotient objects|Space (topology)]]
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