# Math Help - Deformation retracts?

1. ## Deformation retracts?

Let $x_0 \in S^1$.

Is $S^1$ X $\{ x_0 \}$ a retract of $S^1$ X $S^1$?

Is it a deformation retract of $S^1$ X $S^1$?

I would think one would use the fact that if $S^1$ X $\{ x_0 \}$ were a deformation retract of $S^1$ X $S^1$, then their fundamental groups would be isomorphic.

But the fundamental group of $S^1$ X $S^1$ is ZXZ, while I think the fundamental group of $S^1$ X $\{ x_0 \}$ is ZX{0}. Would this be enough to justify it's not a deformation retract? If yes, I have a feeling that $S^1$ X $\{ x_0 \}$ is a retract of $S^1$ X $S^1$. But how do you prove this?

2. You are quite right.

A deformation retract is a special case of a homotopy equivalence. Hence, if a subspace $A$ was a deformation retract of the space $X$, the two spaces would indeed have the same fundamental group (which they don't in your case).

To show that $S^1\times\{x_0\}$ is however a retract of $S^1\times S^1$, you just use the first map that comes to mind, i.e. use the map $f\colon S^1\times S^1\rightarrow S^1\times\{x_0\}$ given by $f(x,y) = (x,x_0)$, so you map all of the second copy of $S^1$ to the point $x_0$

3. Thanks, this makes a lot of sense.