Understanding Topology: A Practical Introduction

A fresh approach to topology makes this complex topic easier for students to master.

Topology--the branch of mathematics that studies the properties of spaces that remain unaffected by stretching and other distortions--can present significant challenges for undergraduate students of mathematics and the sciences. Understanding Topology aims to change that.

The perfect introductory topology textbook, Understanding Topology requires only a knowledge of calculus and a general familiarity with set theory and logic. Equally approachable and rigorous, the book's clear organization, worked examples, and concise writing style support a thorough understanding of basic topological principles. Professor Shaun V. Ault's unique emphasis on fascinating applications, from mapping DNA to determining the shape of the universe, will engage students in a way traditional topology textbooks do not.

This groundbreaking new text:
- presents Euclidean, abstract, and basic algebraic topology
- explains metric topology, vector spaces and dynamics, point-set topology, surfaces, knot theory, graphs and map coloring, the fundamental group, and homology
- includes worked example problems, solutions, and optional advanced sections for independent projects

Following a path that will work with any standard syllabus, the book is arranged to help students reach that "Aha!" moment, encouraging readers to use their intuition through local-to-global analysis and emphasizing topological invariants to lay the groundwork for algebraic topology.