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Matthias Wendt
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I would like to use this to fix theThe $\mathbb{CP}^n$-argument. This would work can be fixed if we know a variation of Ostrand's theorem, namely that for a normal space of covering dimension $\leq n$ and a locally finite open cover, there exists a refinement given by $n/2$ families of sets $\mathcal{V}_i$ such that the union of the sets in $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}\cup V_{i+1,\alpha}$$\mathcal{V}_i$ are of covering dimension 1, but. But I suppose this is unfortunately not clear. So the argument is incomplete..point where I have give up.

I would like to use this to fix the $\mathbb{CP}^n$-argument. This would work if the $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}\cup V_{i+1,\alpha}$ are of covering dimension 1, but this is unfortunately not clear. So the argument is incomplete...

The $\mathbb{CP}^n$-argument can be fixed if we know a variation of Ostrand's theorem, namely that for a normal space of covering dimension $\leq n$ and a locally finite open cover, there exists a refinement given by $n/2$ families of sets $\mathcal{V}_i$ such that the union of the sets in $\mathcal{V}_i$ are of covering dimension 1. But I suppose this is the point where I have give up.

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Matthias Wendt
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Unfortunately, I can only give a partial answer. I can show the factorization through dimension $n$ for $\mathbb{RP}^\infty$ or a weaker factorization through dimension $2n$ for $\mathbb{CP}^\infty$.

It is clear that if $X$ factors (up to homotopy) through a CW-complex of dimension $n$, then it actually factors (up to homotopy) through $\mathbb{CP}^{m}\hookrightarrow\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ with $m$ the floor of $n/2$, by cellular approximation.

For now, I can only show that $f$ factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$. From the classification theorem for vector bundles on paracompact Hausdorff spaces, this follows if we can prove that a complex line bundle on a space of covering dimension $n$ can be generated by $n+1$ global sections, alternatively that there is a trivializing covering by $n+1$ open sets. (The trivializing cover provides an explicit map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^n$ classifying a line bundle isomorphic to the one corresponding to the original map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$. By the classification theorem the maps are homotopic.)

Now we apply Ostrand's theorem, cf. Theorem 3.2.4 of Engelking's book "Dimension theory", noting that paracompact Hausdorff spaces are normal:

A normal space $X$ has covering dimension $\leq n$ if and only if for every locally finite open cover $\{U_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in I}$ there exists an open cover $\{V_\beta\}$ of $X$ which can be represended as the union of $n+1$ families $\mathcal{V}_1,\dots,\mathcal{V}_{n+1}$ with $\mathcal{V}_i=\{V_{i,\alpha}\}_{\alpha\in I}$ such that $V_{i,\alpha}\cap V_{i,\alpha'}=\emptyset$ and $V_{i,\alpha}\subseteq U_\alpha$ for $\alpha\in I$, $i\in 1,\dots,n+1$.

So, take a trivialization of the line bundle $\mathcal{L}\to X$, and refine the trivializing cover to one satisfying the above property. Then for each $i\in\{1,\dots,n+1\}$, we can define a global section on $\bigcup_{\alpha} V_{i,\alpha}$ by taking non-vanishing sections on the open sets $V_{i,\alpha}$. Using a partition of unity precisely subordinate to our open cover, we can glue the local sections to a global section which is non-vanishing on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ and zero outside. (If we assume that $X$ is metric, then we could alternatively scale the section on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ with the distance to the boundary to get an extension of the section.)

Applying the above construction to the families $\mathcal{V}_i$ we get $n+1$ global sections generating the line bundle. Hence there is a classifying map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$, homotopic to the original one, which factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$.


For what it's worth, let me remark that the proof for covering dimension zero is a lot easier. If the space has covering dimension zero, we can get a trivializing cover by disjoint open sets. Clearly, on such a cover we can define a global non-vanishing section of the line bundle, showing that the classifying map $f:X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ is null-homotopic. This actually generalizes to show that any map from a space of covering dimension zero to any CW-complex (locally contractible suffices) is null-homotopic. It is however not clear to me how to extend this to positive dimensions - the extension of homotopies from open sets to the whole space, done for sections via the partition of unity, seems to be complicated in general.


Another remark strengthening the 1-dimensional case: if $X$ is of covering dimension 1, the $\mathbb{CP}^n$ argument above shows that it factors through $\mathbb{CP}^1$. Then the composition with the projection $S^2\to\mathbb{RP}^2$ factors through $\mathbb{RP}^1$ by the $\mathbb{RP}^n$-case of the above argument. The projection $S^2\to\mathbb{RP}^2$ is in fact a Hurewicz fibration, so it has the homotopy lifting property for all spaces. We get a homotopy from $X\to\mathbb{CP}^1$ to a map which lands in the preimage of $S^1\subseteq\mathbb{RP}^2$ - but this has to be null-homotopic.

I would like to use this to fix the $\mathbb{CP}^n$-argument. This would work if the $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}\cup V_{i+1,\alpha}$ are of covering dimension 1, but this is unfortunately not clear. So the argument is incomplete...

Unfortunately, I can only give a partial answer. I can show the factorization through dimension $n$ for $\mathbb{RP}^\infty$ or a weaker factorization through dimension $2n$ for $\mathbb{CP}^\infty$.

It is clear that if $X$ factors (up to homotopy) through a CW-complex of dimension $n$, then it actually factors (up to homotopy) through $\mathbb{CP}^{m}\hookrightarrow\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ with $m$ the floor of $n/2$, by cellular approximation.

For now, I can only show that $f$ factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$. From the classification theorem for vector bundles on paracompact Hausdorff spaces, this follows if we can prove that a complex line bundle on a space of covering dimension $n$ can be generated by $n+1$ global sections, alternatively that there is a trivializing covering by $n+1$ open sets. (The trivializing cover provides an explicit map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^n$ classifying a line bundle isomorphic to the one corresponding to the original map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$. By the classification theorem the maps are homotopic.)

Now we apply Ostrand's theorem, cf. Theorem 3.2.4 of Engelking's book "Dimension theory", noting that paracompact Hausdorff spaces are normal:

A normal space $X$ has covering dimension $\leq n$ if and only if for every locally finite open cover $\{U_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in I}$ there exists an open cover $\{V_\beta\}$ of $X$ which can be represended as the union of $n+1$ families $\mathcal{V}_1,\dots,\mathcal{V}_{n+1}$ with $\mathcal{V}_i=\{V_{i,\alpha}\}_{\alpha\in I}$ such that $V_{i,\alpha}\cap V_{i,\alpha'}=\emptyset$ and $V_{i,\alpha}\subseteq U_\alpha$ for $\alpha\in I$, $i\in 1,\dots,n+1$.

So, take a trivialization of the line bundle $\mathcal{L}\to X$, and refine the trivializing cover to one satisfying the above property. Then for each $i\in\{1,\dots,n+1\}$, we can define a global section on $\bigcup_{\alpha} V_{i,\alpha}$ by taking non-vanishing sections on the open sets $V_{i,\alpha}$. Using a partition of unity precisely subordinate to our open cover, we can glue the local sections to a global section which is non-vanishing on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ and zero outside. (If we assume that $X$ is metric, then we could alternatively scale the section on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ with the distance to the boundary to get an extension of the section.)

Applying the above construction to the families $\mathcal{V}_i$ we get $n+1$ global sections generating the line bundle. Hence there is a classifying map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$, homotopic to the original one, which factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$.


For what it's worth, let me remark that the proof for covering dimension zero is a lot easier. If the space has covering dimension zero, we can get a trivializing cover by disjoint open sets. Clearly, on such a cover we can define a global non-vanishing section of the line bundle, showing that the classifying map $f:X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ is null-homotopic. This actually generalizes to show that any map from a space of covering dimension zero to any CW-complex (locally contractible suffices) is null-homotopic. It is however not clear to me how to extend this to positive dimensions - the extension of homotopies from open sets to the whole space, done for sections via the partition of unity, seems to be complicated in general.

Unfortunately, I can only give a partial answer. I can show the factorization through dimension $n$ for $\mathbb{RP}^\infty$ or a weaker factorization through dimension $2n$ for $\mathbb{CP}^\infty$.

It is clear that if $X$ factors (up to homotopy) through a CW-complex of dimension $n$, then it actually factors (up to homotopy) through $\mathbb{CP}^{m}\hookrightarrow\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ with $m$ the floor of $n/2$, by cellular approximation.

For now, I can only show that $f$ factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$. From the classification theorem for vector bundles on paracompact Hausdorff spaces, this follows if we can prove that a complex line bundle on a space of covering dimension $n$ can be generated by $n+1$ global sections, alternatively that there is a trivializing covering by $n+1$ open sets. (The trivializing cover provides an explicit map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^n$ classifying a line bundle isomorphic to the one corresponding to the original map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$. By the classification theorem the maps are homotopic.)

Now we apply Ostrand's theorem, cf. Theorem 3.2.4 of Engelking's book "Dimension theory", noting that paracompact Hausdorff spaces are normal:

A normal space $X$ has covering dimension $\leq n$ if and only if for every locally finite open cover $\{U_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in I}$ there exists an open cover $\{V_\beta\}$ of $X$ which can be represended as the union of $n+1$ families $\mathcal{V}_1,\dots,\mathcal{V}_{n+1}$ with $\mathcal{V}_i=\{V_{i,\alpha}\}_{\alpha\in I}$ such that $V_{i,\alpha}\cap V_{i,\alpha'}=\emptyset$ and $V_{i,\alpha}\subseteq U_\alpha$ for $\alpha\in I$, $i\in 1,\dots,n+1$.

So, take a trivialization of the line bundle $\mathcal{L}\to X$, and refine the trivializing cover to one satisfying the above property. Then for each $i\in\{1,\dots,n+1\}$, we can define a global section on $\bigcup_{\alpha} V_{i,\alpha}$ by taking non-vanishing sections on the open sets $V_{i,\alpha}$. Using a partition of unity precisely subordinate to our open cover, we can glue the local sections to a global section which is non-vanishing on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ and zero outside. (If we assume that $X$ is metric, then we could alternatively scale the section on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ with the distance to the boundary to get an extension of the section.)

Applying the above construction to the families $\mathcal{V}_i$ we get $n+1$ global sections generating the line bundle. Hence there is a classifying map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$, homotopic to the original one, which factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$.


For what it's worth, let me remark that the proof for covering dimension zero is a lot easier. If the space has covering dimension zero, we can get a trivializing cover by disjoint open sets. Clearly, on such a cover we can define a global non-vanishing section of the line bundle, showing that the classifying map $f:X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ is null-homotopic. This actually generalizes to show that any map from a space of covering dimension zero to any CW-complex (locally contractible suffices) is null-homotopic. It is however not clear to me how to extend this to positive dimensions - the extension of homotopies from open sets to the whole space, done for sections via the partition of unity, seems to be complicated in general.


Another remark strengthening the 1-dimensional case: if $X$ is of covering dimension 1, the $\mathbb{CP}^n$ argument above shows that it factors through $\mathbb{CP}^1$. Then the composition with the projection $S^2\to\mathbb{RP}^2$ factors through $\mathbb{RP}^1$ by the $\mathbb{RP}^n$-case of the above argument. The projection $S^2\to\mathbb{RP}^2$ is in fact a Hurewicz fibration, so it has the homotopy lifting property for all spaces. We get a homotopy from $X\to\mathbb{CP}^1$ to a map which lands in the preimage of $S^1\subseteq\mathbb{RP}^2$ - but this has to be null-homotopic.

I would like to use this to fix the $\mathbb{CP}^n$-argument. This would work if the $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}\cup V_{i+1,\alpha}$ are of covering dimension 1, but this is unfortunately not clear. So the argument is incomplete...

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Matthias Wendt
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Let me attempt an answer, but be warned that I am not usually doing this much point-set topologyUnfortunately, so I may well have missed somethingcan only give a partial answer. (I really hope I didn't..can show the factorization through dimension $n$ for $\mathbb{RP}^\infty$ or a weaker factorization through dimension $2n$ for $\mathbb{CP}^\infty$.)

Edit: Ok, I really missed something fairly silly. The proof below shows the assertion for $\mathbb{RP}^\infty$, or the weaker dimension bound $2n$ for $\mathbb{CP}^\infty$.

It is clear that if $X$ factors (up to homotopy) through a CW-complex of dimension $n$, then it actually factors (up to homotopy) through $\mathbb{CP}^n\hookrightarrow\mathbb{CP}^\infty$$\mathbb{CP}^{m}\hookrightarrow\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ with $m$ the floor of $n/2$, by cellular approximation. So we might as well

For now, I can only show this stronger claimthat $f$ factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$. Combined withFrom the classification theorem for vector bundles on paracompact Hausdorff spaces, this follows if we want tocan prove that a complex line bundle on a space of covering dimension $n$ can be generated by $n+1$ global sections, alternatively that there is a trivializing covering by $n+1$ open sets. (The trivializing cover provides an explicit map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^n$ classifying a line bundle isomorphic to the one corresponding to the original map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$. By the classification theorem the maps are homotopic.)

Now we apply Ostrand's theorem, cf. Theorem 3.2.4 of Engelking's book "Dimension theory", noting that paracompact Hausdorff spaces are normal:

A normal space $X$ has covering dimension $\leq n$ if and only if for every locally finite open cover $\{U_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in I}$ there exists an open cover $\{V_\beta\}$ of $X$ which can be represended as the union of $n+1$ families $\mathcal{V}_1,\dots,\mathcal{V}_{n+1}$ with $\mathcal{V}_i=\{V_{i,\alpha}\}_{\alpha\in I}$ such that $V_{i,\alpha}\cap V_{i,\alpha'}=\emptyset$ and $V_{i,\alpha}\subseteq U_\alpha$ for $\alpha\in I$, $i\in 1,\dots,n+1$.

So, take a trivialization of the line bundle $\mathcal{L}\to X$, and refine the trivializing cover to one satisfying the above property. Then for each $i\in\{1,\dots,n+1\}$, we can define a global section on $\bigcup_{\alpha} V_{i,\alpha}$ by taking non-vanishing sections on the open sets $V_{i,\alpha}$. Using a partition of unity precisely subordinate to our open cover, we can glue the local sections to a global section which is non-vanishing on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ and zero outside. (If we assume that $X$ is metric, then we could alternatively scale the section on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ with the distance to the boundary to get an extension of the section.)

Applying the above construction to the families $\mathcal{V}_i$ we get $n+1$ global sections generating the line bundle. Hence there is a classifying map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$, homotopic to the original one, which factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$.


For what it's worth, let me remark that the proof for covering dimension zero is a lot easier. If the space has covering dimension zero, we can get a trivializing cover by disjoint open sets. Clearly, on such a cover we can define a global non-vanishing section of the line bundle, showing that the classifying map $f:X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ is null-homotopic. This actually generalizes to show that any map from a space of covering dimension zero to any CW-complex (locally contractible suffices) is null-homotopic. It is however not clear to me how to extend this to positive dimensions - the extension of homotopies from open sets to the whole space, done for sections via the partition of unity, seems to be complicated in general.

Let me attempt an answer, but be warned that I am not usually doing this much point-set topology, so I may well have missed something. (I really hope I didn't...)

Edit: Ok, I really missed something fairly silly. The proof below shows the assertion for $\mathbb{RP}^\infty$, or the weaker dimension bound $2n$ for $\mathbb{CP}^\infty$.

It is clear that if $X$ factors (up to homotopy) through a CW-complex of dimension $n$, then it actually factors (up to homotopy) through $\mathbb{CP}^n\hookrightarrow\mathbb{CP}^\infty$, by cellular approximation. So we might as well show this stronger claim. Combined with the classification theorem for vector bundles on paracompact Hausdorff spaces, we want to prove that a complex line bundle on a space of covering dimension $n$ can be generated by $n+1$ global sections, alternatively that there is a trivializing covering by $n+1$ open sets. (The trivializing cover provides an explicit map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^n$ classifying a line bundle isomorphic to the one corresponding to the original map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$. By the classification theorem the maps are homotopic.)

Now we apply Ostrand's theorem, cf. Theorem 3.2.4 of Engelking's book "Dimension theory", noting that paracompact Hausdorff spaces are normal:

A normal space $X$ has covering dimension $\leq n$ if and only if for every locally finite open cover $\{U_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in I}$ there exists an open cover $\{V_\beta\}$ of $X$ which can be represended as the union of $n+1$ families $\mathcal{V}_1,\dots,\mathcal{V}_{n+1}$ with $\mathcal{V}_i=\{V_{i,\alpha}\}_{\alpha\in I}$ such that $V_{i,\alpha}\cap V_{i,\alpha'}=\emptyset$ and $V_{i,\alpha}\subseteq U_\alpha$ for $\alpha\in I$, $i\in 1,\dots,n+1$.

So, take a trivialization of the line bundle $\mathcal{L}\to X$, and refine the trivializing cover to one satisfying the above property. Then for each $i\in\{1,\dots,n+1\}$, we can define a global section on $\bigcup_{\alpha} V_{i,\alpha}$ by taking non-vanishing sections on the open sets $V_{i,\alpha}$. Using a partition of unity precisely subordinate to our open cover, we can glue the local sections to a global section which is non-vanishing on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ and zero outside. (If we assume that $X$ is metric, then we could alternatively scale the section on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ with the distance to the boundary to get an extension of the section.)

Applying the above construction to the families $\mathcal{V}_i$ we get $n+1$ global sections generating the line bundle. Hence there is a classifying map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$, homotopic to the original one, which factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$.


For what it's worth, let me remark that the proof for covering dimension zero is a lot easier. If the space has covering dimension zero, we can get a trivializing cover by disjoint open sets. Clearly, on such a cover we can define a global non-vanishing section of the line bundle, showing that the classifying map $f:X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ is null-homotopic. This actually generalizes to show that any map from a space of covering dimension zero to any CW-complex (locally contractible suffices) is null-homotopic. It is however not clear to me how to extend this to positive dimensions - the extension of homotopies from open sets to the whole space, done for sections via the partition of unity, seems to be complicated in general.

Unfortunately, I can only give a partial answer. I can show the factorization through dimension $n$ for $\mathbb{RP}^\infty$ or a weaker factorization through dimension $2n$ for $\mathbb{CP}^\infty$.

It is clear that if $X$ factors (up to homotopy) through a CW-complex of dimension $n$, then it actually factors (up to homotopy) through $\mathbb{CP}^{m}\hookrightarrow\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ with $m$ the floor of $n/2$, by cellular approximation.

For now, I can only show that $f$ factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$. From the classification theorem for vector bundles on paracompact Hausdorff spaces, this follows if we can prove that a complex line bundle on a space of covering dimension $n$ can be generated by $n+1$ global sections, alternatively that there is a trivializing covering by $n+1$ open sets. (The trivializing cover provides an explicit map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^n$ classifying a line bundle isomorphic to the one corresponding to the original map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$. By the classification theorem the maps are homotopic.)

Now we apply Ostrand's theorem, cf. Theorem 3.2.4 of Engelking's book "Dimension theory", noting that paracompact Hausdorff spaces are normal:

A normal space $X$ has covering dimension $\leq n$ if and only if for every locally finite open cover $\{U_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in I}$ there exists an open cover $\{V_\beta\}$ of $X$ which can be represended as the union of $n+1$ families $\mathcal{V}_1,\dots,\mathcal{V}_{n+1}$ with $\mathcal{V}_i=\{V_{i,\alpha}\}_{\alpha\in I}$ such that $V_{i,\alpha}\cap V_{i,\alpha'}=\emptyset$ and $V_{i,\alpha}\subseteq U_\alpha$ for $\alpha\in I$, $i\in 1,\dots,n+1$.

So, take a trivialization of the line bundle $\mathcal{L}\to X$, and refine the trivializing cover to one satisfying the above property. Then for each $i\in\{1,\dots,n+1\}$, we can define a global section on $\bigcup_{\alpha} V_{i,\alpha}$ by taking non-vanishing sections on the open sets $V_{i,\alpha}$. Using a partition of unity precisely subordinate to our open cover, we can glue the local sections to a global section which is non-vanishing on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ and zero outside. (If we assume that $X$ is metric, then we could alternatively scale the section on $\bigcup_{\alpha}V_{i,\alpha}$ with the distance to the boundary to get an extension of the section.)

Applying the above construction to the families $\mathcal{V}_i$ we get $n+1$ global sections generating the line bundle. Hence there is a classifying map $X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$, homotopic to the original one, which factors through $\mathbb{CP}^n$.


For what it's worth, let me remark that the proof for covering dimension zero is a lot easier. If the space has covering dimension zero, we can get a trivializing cover by disjoint open sets. Clearly, on such a cover we can define a global non-vanishing section of the line bundle, showing that the classifying map $f:X\to\mathbb{CP}^\infty$ is null-homotopic. This actually generalizes to show that any map from a space of covering dimension zero to any CW-complex (locally contractible suffices) is null-homotopic. It is however not clear to me how to extend this to positive dimensions - the extension of homotopies from open sets to the whole space, done for sections via the partition of unity, seems to be complicated in general.

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Matthias Wendt
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