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Topology

Geometry and topology

The study of properties of a space preserved under continuous deformation — stretching and bending, but not tearing or gluing.

What is usually left out

Topology deliberately forgets distance and angle, keeping only what survives deformation. A coffee cup and a doughnut are the same topologically because each has one hole; a sphere is different because it has none. What counts as "the same" is made precise by homeomorphism.

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