# Ring structure of $H^2(S^2 \vee S^4)$

We know that $H^p(S^2 \vee S^4) = H^p(S^2)\oplus H^p(S^4)$ for $p\neq 0$. I want to show that this space has different ring structure than $CP^2$. So, given a generator in $H^2(S^2 \vee S^4)$ I want to cup it with itself and get 0. My idea is to use the generator from $H^2(S^2)$(which obviously is zero when squared). How should I go from here? Is this even the correct idea?

($\vee$ here is one-point intersection).

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Look at $\pi:S^2\vee S^4\rightarrow S^2$ which collapses the $S^4$ to a point. Use the fact that $\pi$ induces a ring map $\pi^*:H^2(S^2)\rightarrow H^2(S^2\vee S^4)$. (Isn't $\vee$ usually used instead of $\wedge$ to mean the one point intersection?) –  Jason DeVito Dec 12 '10 at 23:42
Jason: So, I let $\pi$ be the projection map which gives me the induced ring homomorphism $\pi^*$. Since $H^2(S^2) \cong H^2(S^2 \vee S^4)\cong \mathbb{Z}$ then a generator is mapped to a generator? –  M.B. Dec 13 '10 at 0:18
Yes, that is the idea. Now look use the fact, as stated above, that $\pi^*$ is a ring map. –  Sean Tilson Dec 13 '10 at 2:47