The deRham Cohomology of S n .

Given that 1) cohomology is a homotopy invariant, and 2) the Poincare lemma, compute the deRham cohomology of S n . Proceed by induction on n, the n = 1 case computed directly by integration. Let S n = U V with U Rn , V Rn , and U V S n1 . For example, U n and V could be S with the North and South pole removed, respectively. k Let (S n ) be a closed k -form. Case 1 < k < n: Since H k (Rn ) = 0, there is and d = |V .
k1

(U ) and

k1

(V ) with d = |U
k 2

On U V , d( ) = 0. Since H k1 (S n1 ) = 0, there is with d = ( )|U V .

(U V )

Now let fU , fV be a partition of unity subordinate to U, V . Then on U V , d(fU ) + d(fV ) = . Since fU extends (by 0) to a form on V , + d(fU ) is dened on V . Since fV extends to a form on U , d(fV ) is dened on U . Put = + d(fU ) = d(fV ). is dened on all of S n , and d = , so that is exact. Case k = 1: When k = 1, and as above are functions with d( ) = 0, so = + C for some constant C , so that extends to a function on all of S n and d = . Case k = n: Show that any n form with integral 0 is exact, so that H n (S n ) = R generated by the volume form. Suppose S n = 0. Take , as above, and let H, L be the upper and lower hemispheres of S n . Then using Stokes theorem, =
S n1 L

d +
H

d =
Sn

=0

Then is exact, and the proof proceeds as in the 1 < k < n case.