# Generalisation of Seifert-van Kampen theorem?

The professor of the topology course stated the theorem, without proof, as:

Seifert-van Kampen Theorem:
I. Let $X=\bigcup_{i=1}^nU_i,$ where $U_i$ are open and path-connected. Suppose $x_0\in \bigcap U_i$ and let $j_k:\pi_1(U_k,x_0)\rightarrow \pi_1(X,x_0)$ be induced maps of the natural inclusions $U_k\rightarrow X.$ Then these $j_k$ induce a unique group homomorphism $\Phi: \prod_{1\le i\le n}^*\pi_1(U_i,x_0)\rightarrow \pi_1(X,x_0)$ such that $\Phi(x)=j_k(x)$ if $x$ comes from $\pi_1(U_k,x_0),$ where the star on the product symbol indicates that this is the free product of these groups.
II. If $U_k\cap U_l$ is path-connected for all $k, l,$ then $\Phi$ is surjective.
Further let $i_{k,l}:\pi_1(U_k\cap U_l,x_0)\rightarrow\pi_1(U_k,x_0)$ be induced by $U_k\cap U_l\rightarrow U_k.$
III. If $U_k\cap U_l\cap U_m$ is path-connected $\forall 1\le k, l, m\le n,$ then $\ker\Phi$ is the normal subgroup generated by all elements of the form $i_{k,l}(w)i_{l,k}(w)^{-1}, \forall w\in\pi_1(U_k\cap U_l,x_0).$

But our textbook only states the case of the theorem where $n=2.$ And the proof in that case does not seem to apply in the general case: especially we only assume that the trifold intersections are path-connected, not including intersections of more than three opens.
I searched on the internet, and found nothing. I went to ask the professor, and he replied: it is a long story... We can talk about it in the course about algebraic topology during the next semester.
Apparently I don't think I can wait that long. So any hint or reference is sincerely welcomed. Thanks in advance.

• Theorem 1.20 in Hatcher – user61527 Dec 31 '13 at 18:36
• In fact, you can find the entire book here. – user61527 Dec 31 '13 at 18:40
• You might also want to look at Peter May's concise course in algebraic topology. He proves van kampen for fundamental groupoids, which is a lot more natural than for fundamental groups. Should clarify how to think about all of these van kampen theorems in a unified way. – Steven Gubkin Dec 31 '13 at 19:39
• [1]:pages.bangor.ac.uk/~mas010/publicfull.htm The most general result of this kind involving fundamental groupoids on a set of base points is in R. Brown and A. Razak, "A van Kampen theorem for unions of non-connected spaces", Archiv. Math. 42 (1984) 85-88, item [41] on my [publication list][1]. – Ronnie Brown Dec 31 '13 at 20:51
• A further comment on our paper is that the proof goes by a direct verification of the universal property, rather than any specific description of colimits in groupoids. An advantage of groupoids is that the coproduct in the category of groupoids is just disjoint union. The further advantage of this type of proof is that it generalises to higher dimensions, yielding new results on for example excision for second relative homotopy groups, see an answer of mine on this site. – Ronnie Brown Dec 31 '13 at 22:57

We first define for a space $X$ and set $A$ the fundamental groupoid $\pi_1(X,A)$ to be the set of homotopy classes rel end points of paths in $X$ joining points of $A \cap X$, with groupoid structure determined by the usual composition of paths. We say $A$ is representative in $X$ if $A$ meets each path component of $X$. (Another term would be to say $(X,A)$ is connected.)
Suppose $X$ has a cover $\mathcal U = \{U_i: i \in I\}$ by open sets (or sets whose interiors cover $X$). Let $I^2$ be the set of pairs $\{(i,j): i,j \in I\}$. Let $U_{ij}= U_i \cap U_j$ and let $$a_{ij}: U_{ij} \to U_i, b_{ij} : U_{ij} \to U_j, c_i: U_i \to X$$ be the inclusions. For any set $A$ we have the diagram
$$\bigsqcup_{ij} \pi_1(U_{ij},A) \rightrightarrows^a_b \bigsqcup_i \pi_1(U_i,A) \to^c \pi_1(X,A),$$ where $a,b,c$ are induced by the above inclusions. Here $\bigsqcup$ denotes disjoint union, which is the coproduct in the category of groupoids. (In the category of groups, the coproduct is the free product, which needs more work to establish.)
Theorem If the set $A$ is representative in all $1,2,3$-fold intersections of sets of $\mathcal U$, then the following holds: if $G$ is any groupoid and $f: \bigsqcup_{i} \pi_1(U_i ,A) \to G$ is any morphism of groupoids such that $fa=fb$, then there is a unique morphism $f': \pi_1(X,A) \to G$ such that $f'c=f$.
Thus what is given is a universal property for $\pi_1(X,A)$, without a specific construction of something satisfying this universal property. The proof goes by verifying the universal property, which may then be used to develop specific constructions. This is the categorical approach.