TheHoTTGame/1FundamentalGroup/Quest0Part1.md
2021-09-15 16:50:44 +01:00

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# `refl ≡ loop` is empty
To get a better feel of `S¹`, we show that the space
```
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 two candidate definitions for a space `A` to be empty :
- there is a point `f : A → ⊥`
- there is a path `p : A ≡ ⊥` in the space of spaces `Type`
- there is an isomorphism `i : A ≅ ⊥` of spaces
These turn out to be 'the same',
however for our present purposes we will use the first definition.
So our goal now is to produce a point of
```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 create a map from `refl ≡ loop` to `true ≡ false` 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`.
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.
(Insert gif of double cover.)
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_.
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`.
You should now see two new holes :
```agda
doubleCover : S¹ → Type
doubleCover base = {!!}
doubleCover (loop i) = {!!}
```
The meaning is as follows :
the circle is made from a point `base` together with an edge `loop`,
so a map out of it 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.
Defining `flipPath` is quite involved and we will do so in the next quest!