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86 bytes added ,  20:04, July 4, 2009
slightly reworded opening again. i hope it makes it clearer, but revert if you disagree.
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The '''fundamental group''' is a basic construction of [[algebraic topology]]. For a given surface, such as a torus or even (humorously) a dunce cap, its fundamental group is its set of path loops that has a useful characteristic known as "[[homotopy]]".
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The '''fundamental group''' is a basic construction of [[algebraic topology]]. For a given surface, such as a torus or even the (humorously named) dunce cap, the fundamental group is the set of loops in the space, but with two loops regarded as equivalent if they may be continuously deformed to one another, a relation known as [[homotopy]].
    
To a [[topological space]] <math>X</math>, the fundamental group construction associates an algebraic object which describes the set of "holes" in the space.   
 
To a [[topological space]] <math>X</math>, the fundamental group construction associates an algebraic object which describes the set of "holes" in the space.   
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