Understanding Homology: Chains, Cycles, and Classes in Algebraic Topology 📚

This is the second hour of André Henriques' fourth year Algebraic Topology course. We introduce the basics of homology at an intuitive level, then slowly work towards formalising this intuition by means of the notions of chains, cycles, and eventually homology classes. Many examples are worked out in pictures.

You can watch the first hour here: https://youtu.be/YbjJ2wep8o0

You can watch many other student lectures via our main Student Lectures playlist (also check out specific student lectures playlists): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4d5ZtfQonW0A4VHeiY0gSkX1QEraaacE

All first and second year lectures are followed by tutorials where students meet their tutor in pairs to go through the lecture and associated problem sheet and to talk and think more about the maths. Third and fourth year lectures are followed by classes.