# Fundamental group of that using Seifert-van Kampen

I have this exercise: Compute the fundamental group $$\pi_1(X)$$ of the space $$X=S^2 \cup \{ (x,0,0) : x\in [-1,1] \} \cup \{(0,y,0):y\in [-1,1] \} \cup \{(0,0,z):z\in [1,1] \}$$.

I tried that via Seifert-Van Kampen:

Let $$I_x = \{ (x,0,0) : x\in [-1,1] \}$$, $$I_y = \{(0,y,0):y\in [-1,1] \}$$, $$I_z = \{(0,0,z):z\in [1,1] \}$$.

Then $$\pi_1(X) = \pi_1(S^2 \cup I_x \cup I_y \cup I_z) = \pi_1((S^2 \cup I_x) \cup (I_y \cup I_z)) \cong \pi_1(S^2 \cup I_x) \ast_{\pi_1((S^2 \cup I_x) \cap (I_y \cup I_z))} \pi_1(I_y \cup I_z) \cong (\pi_1(S^2) \ast_{\pi_1(S^2\cap I_x)} \pi_1(I_x)) \ast_{\pi_1((S^2 \cup I_x) \cap (I_y \cup I_z))} (\pi_1(I_y) \ast_{I_y\cap I_z} \pi_1(I_z)) \cong (\{0 \} \ast_{\pi_1(S^0)} \{ 0 \}) \ast_{\pi_1((0,0,0))} (\{0 \} \ast_{\pi_1((0,0,0))} \{ 0 \})=(\{0\} \ast_{\pi_1(S^0)} \{0\}) \ast (\{0\} \ast \{0\})$$.

I know it looks ridiculous.

I don't know how to compute this product with amalgamation.

• did you already do the analog case of the circle $S^1$ with the two "intervals" $[-1,1]$ and $[-i,i]$? Jul 16, 2021 at 18:08
• This space is homotopy equivalent to $S^2 \vee S^1 \vee S^1 \vee S^1$. Can you see why? Jul 16, 2021 at 18:16

Consider the eight directions we can go from $$(0, 0, 0)$$; let $$D$$ be the set of these directions. Then the fundamental group is the group generated by $$D^2$$, with the relations that for all $$a, b, c \in D$$, $$(a, b) \cdot (b, c) = (a, c)$$.
The idea is that $$(a, b)$$ represents leaving the origin in the direction $$a$$, walking around on the sphere a bit, and then coming back to the origin in direction $$b$$.
But note that your method doesn't work since $$S^2 \cup I_x$$ is not an open set. You need to use the van Kampen theorem for fundamental groupoids.