solutions using the Seifert-van Kampen Theorem?

Question

We are studying for qualifying exams, and we are lacking in examples of how to use the Seifert-van Kampen Theorem. Of course there are only trivial examples like the wedge of n circles, but we need harder examples. Please give web page links or recommendations of books that have nice worked out examples that are not obvious.

Note: Wikipedia links and the like are not welcome.

We already did a Google and Yahoo! search. If I had found it there, I would not be asking.

Answer 1

Hey. Here are some links to math depts. There are questions but no answers. We can bug T for answers.

http://www.math.ou.edu/grad/qualexam.html

http://www.ma.utexas.edu/Prelims-Old/

http://mathnt.mat.jhu.edu/exams/exams.htm

http://www.math.uiowa.edu/grad/

http://topo.math.auburn.edu/pub/prelims/

http://www.math.tamu.edu/teaching/graduate/quals.htm

http://www.math.lsu.edu/grad/gradexams.html

http://www.math.ksu.edu/main/graduate/advanced_degrees.htm#QE

http://www.math.ou.edu/grad/qualexam.html

http://www.math.psu.edu/Grad/qualifie/QUALIF.html#Algebra

http://www.math.northwestern.edu/graduate/prelims/

Answer 2

search google, yahoo
for Seifert-van Kampen Theorem examples