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Cohomology

Cohomology is an invariant of a Topological Space, formally ``dual'' to Homology, and so it detects ``holes'' in a Space. Cohomology has more algebraic structure than Homology, making it into a graded ring (multiplication given by ``cup product''), whereas Homology is just a graded Abelian Group invariant of a Space.


A generalized homology or cohomology theory must satisfy all of the Eilenberg-Steenrod Axioms with the exception of the dimension axiom.

See also Aleksandrov-Cech Cohomology, Alexander-Spanier Cohomology, Cech Cohomology, de Rham Cohomology, Homology (Topology)




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-26