proof of Brouwer fixed point theorem
Proof of the Brouwer fixed point theorem![]()
:
Assume that there does exist a map from with no fixed point. Then let be the following map: Start at , draw the ray going through and then let bethe first intersection
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of that line with the sphere. This map is continuous
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and well defined onlybecause fixes no point. Also, it is not hard to see that it must be the identity
on the boundarysphere. Thus we have a map , which is the identity on, that is, a retraction
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. Now, if is the inclusionmap
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, . Applying the reduced homology functor
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, we find that, where indicates the induced map on homology
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.
But, it is a well-known fact that (since is contractible![]()
), and that. Thus we have an isomorphism
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of a non-zero group onto itselffactoring through a trivial group, which is clearly impossible. Thus we have a contradiction
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,and no such map exists.