Relative homotopy groups are algebraic invariants that provide information about the topology of a space relative to a subspace. Specifically, for a topological space X and a subspace A, the relative homotopy group $$\pi_n(X, A)$$ measures the n-dimensional holes in X that are not filled by A, offering insight into how X is structured around A. These groups play a crucial role in understanding the relationships between different spaces and are particularly important when discussing the Hurewicz theorem, which connects homotopy groups with homology groups.
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