Relative homology groups of the torus I have the following question to problem 2.1.17 in Allen Hatcher's "Algebraic Topology". 

Compute the groups $H_n(X,A)$ and $H_n(X,B)$ where $X$ is a closed orientable surface of genus two and $A$ and $B$ are the circles shown in the picture on page 132  of Hatcher (page 141 of the pdf). 

So far I came up with the following exact sequences (for A and B):
$$
\begin{aligned}
0&\rightarrow H_{2}(A) \rightarrow H_{2}(X) \rightarrow H_{2}(X,A)\rightarrow\\
&\rightarrow H_{1}(A) \rightarrow H_{1}(X) \rightarrow H_{1}(X,A)\rightarrow\\
&\rightarrow H_{0}(A) \rightarrow H_{0}(X) \rightarrow H_{0}(X,A) \rightarrow 0
\end{aligned}
$$
and 
$$
\begin{aligned}
0&\rightarrow H_{2}(B) \rightarrow H_{2}(X) \rightarrow H_{2}(X,B)\rightarrow\\
&\rightarrow H_{1}(B) \rightarrow H_{1}(X) \rightarrow H_{1}(X,B)\rightarrow\\
&\rightarrow H_{0}(B) \rightarrow H_{0}(X) \rightarrow H_{0}(X,B) \rightarrow 0,
\end{aligned}
$$
where $H_{2}(A) = H_{2}(B) = 0$, $H_{1}(A) = H_{1}(B) = \mathbb{Z} = H_{0}(A) = H_{0}(B)$ and for $X$ there is $H_{2}(X) = H_{0}(X) = \mathbb{Z}$ and $H_{1}(X) = \mathbb{Z}^{4}$. Furthermore I know that the mappings $H_{1}(A) \rightarrow H_{1}(X)$ is zero and that $H_{1}(B) \rightarrow H_{1}(X)$ is injective. By these I could deduce that $H_{0}(X,A) = 0$ and $H_{1}(X,A) = \mathbb{Z}^{4}$ and $H_{0}(X,B) = 0$. But I can't go on further. What about the other relative homology groups? What do I need more? Hope this question is not too trivial and apologize. Hope someone to help.
mika
 A: For the case $H(X,A)$: just plug in the exact sequence the things you know:
$0 \to \mathbb{Z} \to H_2(X,A) \to \mathbb{Z} =H_1(A)\to H_1(X)= \mathbb{Z}^4 \to H_1(X,A)\to 0$
As you said, the map $\mathbb{Z} =H_1(A)\to H_1(X)= \mathbb{Z}^4$ is the zero map since $A$ bounds a subsurface in $X$; thus you can split your sequence in two easier pieces:
$ 0 \to \mathbb{Z} \to H_2(X,A) \to \mathbb{Z} =H_1(A)\to 0$
$0 \to H_1(X)= \mathbb{Z}^4\to H_1(X,A)\to 0$
But these are exact sequences! so you obtain respectively
$H_2(X,A) / \mathbb{Z} = H_1(A)$, which implies $H_2(X,A)=\mathbb{Z} ^2$
$H_1(X,A)=\mathbb{Z}^4$
Now take the case (X,B) and plug in what you know
$0 \to \mathbb{Z} \to H_2(X,B) \to \mathbb{Z} =H_1(B)\to H_1(X)= \mathbb{Z}^4 \to H_1(X,B)\to 0$
Now $B$ is not nullhomologous and so the map $H_1(B) \to H_1(X)$ is injective; therefore, you can split like this:
$0 \to \mathbb{Z} \to H_2(X,B) \to 0$ which implies $H_2(X,B)=\mathbb{Z}$
$0\to \mathbb{Z} \to \mathbb{Z}^4 \to H_1(X,b)$ which implies $ H_1(X,B) = \mathbb{Z}^4 / \mathbb{Z} = \mathbb{Z}^3 $
Notice that:
1) this is consistent with Matt's answer, but is more basic: you don't need to find any retract of $X/A$ or $X/B$ and you don't need the result on wedge sums, just some reasoning on injective maps between powers of $\mathbb{Z}$.
2) this generalizes to a surface of arbitrary genus $g$ (you will have $2g$ instead of $4$, but the proof is exactly the same).
Let me know if something was not clear.
A: (I don't have enough reputation so can't reply to the comment of @man_in_green_shirt above.)
In @Lor's answer above, there should be a zero on the right hand side of,
$$ 0 \rightarrow H_1(X) \rightarrow H_1(X,A) \rightarrow 0 $$
but not because $H_0(A) = 0$.
All elements $[\alpha] \in H_1(X,A)$ get sent to the homology class in $H_0(A)$ corresponding to $\partial \alpha \in C_0(A)$. But then observe that any such $\partial \alpha \in C_0(A)$ is actually bounding a contiguous region of $A$. Then any such $\partial \alpha$ is a boundary in $C_0(A)$, and thus $\partial \alpha$ is null homologous in $H_0(A)$.
Notice that this would not be true if, for example, $A$ was not the circle shown but was instead two disjoint arcs of the circle.
A: $(X,A)$ and $(X,B)$ are good pairs (because $X$ is a cell complex and $A$ and $B$ are subcomplexes).
Now you can use proposition 2.22. on page 124 which states that $H_n(X,A) \cong \tilde{H_n}(X/A)$.
In your case you have $X/A = T^2 \vee T^2$ and $X/B = T^2 \vee S^1$. So you want to compute the reduced homology of a wedge sum. By corollary 2.25. on page 126 you know that $\tilde{H_n} (\bigvee_\alpha X_\alpha) = \bigoplus_\alpha \tilde{H_n}(X_\alpha)$ so the answer to the question boils down to computing the reduced homology groups of $T^2$ and $S^1$ respectively. 
Hope this helps. Otherwise don't hesitate to ask.
As for your question: It would be nice of you if you could edit it and include the question from Hatcher. Would you do that? Thank you in advance.
