# `Refl ≡ loop` is empty To get a better feel of `S¹`, we show that the space of paths (homotopies) between `Refl` and `loop`, written `Refl ≡ loop`, is empty. First, we define the empty space and what it means for a space to be empty. Here is what this looks like in `agda` : ```agda data ⊥ : Type where ``` This says "the empty space `⊥` is a space with no points in it". Here are three candidate definitions for a space `A` to be empty : - there is a point `f : A → ⊥` in the space of functions from `A` to the empty space - there is a path `p : A ≡ ⊥` in the space of spaces `Type` from `A` to the empty space - there is an isomorphism `i : A ≅ ⊥` of spaces These turn out to be 'the same' (see `1FundamentalGroup/Quest0SideQuests/SideQuest0`), however for our present purposes we will use the first definition. Our goal is therefore to produce a point in the function space ```agda ( Refl ≡ loop ) → ⊥ ``` The authors of this series have thought long and hard about how one would come up with the following argument. Unfortunately, sometimes mathematics is in need of a new trick and this was one of them. > The trick is to make a path `p : true ≡ false` from the assumed path (homotopy) `h : Refl ≡ loop` by > constructing a non-trivial `Bool`-bundle over the circle, > hence obtaining a map `( Refl ≡ loop ) → ⊥`. To elaborate : `Bool` here refers to the discrete space with two points `true, false`. (To find out the definition of `Bool` in `agda` you can hover over `Bool` in `agda` and use `M-SPC c d`.) We will create a map `doubleCover : S¹ → Type` that sends `base` to `Bool` and the path `loop` to a non-trivial path `flipPath : Bool ≡ Bool` in the space of spaces. doubleCover Viewing the picture vertically, for each point `x : S¹`, we call `doubleCover x` the _fiber of `doubleCover` over `x`_. All the fibers look like `Bool`, hence our choice of the name _`Bool`-bundle_. We will get a path from `true` to `false` in the fiber of `doubleCover` over `base` by 'lifting the homotopy' `h : Refl ≡ loop` and considering the end points of the 'lifted paths'. `Refl` will 'lift' to a 'constant path' and `loop` will 'lift' to lifted_loops Let's assume for the moment that we have `flipPath` already and define `doubleCover`. - Navigate to the definition of `doubleCover` and make sure you have loaded the file with `C-c C-l`. ```agda doubleCover : S¹ → Type doubleCover x = {!!} ``` - Navigate your cursor to the hole, write `x` and do `C-c C-c`. The `c` stands for _cases_. You should now see two new holes : ```agda doubleCover : S¹ → Type doubleCover base = {!!} doubleCover (loop i) = {!!} ``` This means : `S¹` is made from a point `base` and an edge `loop`, so a map out of `S¹` to a space is the same as choosing a point and an edge to map `base` and `loop` to respectively. Since `loop` is a path from `base` to itself, its image must also be a path from the image of `base` to itself. - Use `C-c C-f` and/or `C-c C-b` to navigate to the first hole. We want to map `base` to `Bool` so fill the hole with `Bool` using `C-c C-SPC`. - Navigate to the second hole. Here `loop i` is a generic point in the path `loop`, where `i : I` is a generic point of the 'unit interval'. We want to map `loop` to `flipPath`, so `loop i` should map to a generic point in the path `flipPath`. Try filling the hole. - Once you think you are done, reload the `agda` file with `C-c C-l` and if it doesn't complain this means there are no problems with your definition. Defining `flipPath` is quite involved and we will do so in the next quest!