Work
His definition of CW complexes gave a setting for homotopy theory that became standard. He introduced the idea of simple homotopy theory, which was later much developed in connection with algebraic K-theory. The Whitehead product is an operation in homotopy theory. The Whitehead problem on abelian groups was solved (as an independence proof) by Saharon Shelah. His involvement with topology and the Poincaré conjecture led to the creation of the Whitehead manifold. The definition of crossed modules is due to him. Whitehead also made important contributions in differential topology, particularly on triangulations and their associated smooth structures.
Read more about this topic: J. H. C. Whitehead
Famous quotes containing the word work:
“We work to eat to get the strength to work to eat to get the strength to work to eat to get the strength to work to eat to get the strength to work.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“People need to be made more aware of the need to work at learning how to live because life is so quick and sometimes it goes away too quickly.”
—Andy Warhol (1928–1987)
“We ought, says Kant, to become acquainted with the instrument, before we undertake the work for which it is to be employed; for if the instrument be insufficient, all our trouble will be spent in vain. The plausibility of this suggestion has won for it general assent and admiration.... But the examination can be only carried out by an act of knowledge. To examine this so-called instrument is the same as to know it.”
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)