On simple maps

This chapter deals with simple maps of finite simplicial sets, along with some of their formal properties. It begins with a discussion of simple maps of simplicial sets, presenting a proposition for the conditions that qualify a map of finite simplicial sets as a simple map. In particular, it considers a simple map as a weak homotopy equivalence. Weak homotopy equivalences have the 2-out-of-3 property, which combines the composition, right cancellation and left cancellation properties. The chapter proceeds by defining some relevant terms, such as Euclidean neighborhood retract, absolute neighborhood retract, Čech homotopy type, and degeneracy operator. It also describes normal subdivision of simplicial sets, geometric realization and subdivision, the reduced mapping cylinder, how to make simplicial sets non-singular, and the approximate lifting property.