TITLE: Which space do we obtain if we take a Möbius strip and identify its boundary circle to a point?
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: I know that the boundary circle of a Möbius strip is actually formed by the horizontal sides of $[0 ,1] \times [0,1]$.If we identify all the points of the 1st horizontal side to a single point and do the same for the second horizontal side we get a disc with the antipodal points identified to itself(which is $\mathbb{RP}^2$).
However I am not sure of how to write it down rigorously.
$\require{AMScd}$
\begin{CD}
    Mobius strip  @>i(x)>> [0,1] \times[0,1] @>g(x)>> D  @>f(x)>> D/\sim_1\\
     @VV\pi(x) = cl(x)V \\
    Mobius Strip / \sim  \\
\end{CD}
where $\sim$ denotes identifying the boundary cirlce  of a Mobius strip and $\sim_1$ denotes identifying the opposite points of the disc.

I am not sure of what $g(x)$ is ? or the fact that mobius strip will be compact or the composition of $f \circ g \circ i(x)$ will be onto?

Any other method will be appreciated but I wanted to know whether the mobius strip is compact?

REPLY [2 votes]: I think there is mistake in your specified definition of $\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^2$. Here, $\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^2=\frac{S^2}{Antipodals}$ ($S^2$ is a sphere in $\mathbb{R}^3$). Now, I am just trying to clarify your approach, though I am not sure if this huge composition of maps will work or not,
Here, you are using the following theorem,
$\require{AMScd}$
\begin{CD}
    X  @>f>> Y \\
     @V\pi VV \\
      X / \sim  
\end{CD}
If $f$ is an identification then $Y$ is homeomorphic with $X/\sim$ (where $\pi(x) = cl(x)$). Here, $\sim$ is an eq. relation using the partition made by $f$.
For this problem I may draw the picture like,
$\require{AMScd}$
\begin{CD}
    X =I\times I @>f_1(x)=cl(x)>> S^1\times S^1@>f_2(x)=cl(x)>> S^1\times S^1/\sim_3=S^2  @>f_3(x)=cl(x)>> S^2/\sim\ =\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^2\\
     @V\pi_1(x) = cl(x)VV \\
    I\times I / \sim_1 \\
   @V\pi_2(x) = cl(x)VV \\
    Möbius Strip / \sim_2  
\end{CD}
where,
$X =I\times I = [0,1]\times [0,1]$.
$\sim $ = Identifying the antipodal points.
$\sim_1 $ = Usual eq. relation to make Möbius.
$\sim_2$ = Identifying the points on the boundary circle of the Möbius strip.
$\sim_3$ is an eq. relation such that, $S^1\times S^1/\sim_3 \ \cong \ S^1\times S^1/ S^1\vee S^1$
$f=f_1\circ f_2\circ f_3$ is an identification from $I\times I$ to $\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^2$ and
$\pi=\pi_1\circ \pi_2$ is an identification from $I\times I$ to $Möbius Strip / \sim_2$.
But here to prove $Möbius Strip / \sim_2 \ \cong \ \mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^2$, we need to show $\pi$ is the identification map using the partition made by $f$. I think this will not hold for this maps, I am not sure. This maps may clarify your approach that you are asking for, but may not serve the purpose.