# Covering spaces Hatcher question 6.

Let X be the shrinking wedge of circles. Which is the radius of circles $X \in R^2$ such that it's the union of $C_n$ circles centered at $(\frac{1}{n},0)$ with radius $\frac{1}{n}$ for n=1,2,3...

I'm having a bit of trouble with sheeted aspect. I'm thinking that the answer is two straight lines intersecting in a point. Does sheeted refer to covering it twice?

So like a straight line can cover that space I think.

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`2 sheeted covering space' means that the map $f : Y \to \tilde X$ satisfies $f^{-1}(p)$ is two points for all $p \in \tilde X$. –  Ryan Budney Mar 20 '12 at 23:01
@RyanBudney That makes sense. However, it was saying for a connected space the cardinality is constant. So wondering how does being connected preserve that property. –  simplicity Mar 20 '12 at 23:10
Are you referring to the cardinality of $f^{-1}(p)$ being constant provided $\tilde X$ is connected? This is unrelated to your question, but yes this is true. It's a basic connectivity argument -- form a disconnection of $\tilde X$ by considering the subspaces of $\tilde X$ where $f^{-1}(p)$ have different cardinalities. –  Ryan Budney Mar 20 '12 at 23:15
I remember this question and some answers. What have you thought of so far? You should note that two straight lines intersecting at a point is not a covering space of $\hat{X}$ at all, so that won't do. In general, as there are infinitely many earrings now, you expect to have twice as many (i.e. still infinitely many) earrings or earring representatives in your answer. If you're confused by sheets, note that $\hat{X}$ is an infinite sheeted covering of $X$, but it's still connected. –  mixedmath Mar 20 '12 at 23:23
@mixedmath Well, yeah thinking you have to modify it. So you have a straight line of earrings, two straight line of earrings intersecting at a point. –  simplicity Mar 20 '12 at 23:31