Universal coefficient theorem for cohomology

From Topospaces

Statement

For coefficients in an abelian group

Suppose M is an abelian group and X is a space with homology of finite type. The universal coefficients theorem relates the cohomology groups for X with integral coefficients (i.e., with coefficients in Z) to the cohomology groups with coefficients in M.

The theorem comes in two parts.

First, it states that there is a natural short exact sequence:

0Hn(X;Z)MHn(X;M)Tor(Hn+1(X;Z),M)0

Second, it states that the short exact sequence splits (non-canonically):

Hn(X;M)(Hn(X;Z)M)Tor(Hn+1(X;Z),M)

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