1
vote
1answer
39 views

geometrically finite hyperbolic surface of infinite volume

I am starting to read some papers involving analysis on hyperbolic manifolds. In these the notion of a "geometrically finite hyperbolic surface of infinite volume" is mentioned frequently and I am ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views

Elementary definition: what's a parallel volume-form?

This is a very elementary question, What is the definition for a volume form (or $n$-form) to be parallel with respect to the metric? To find out more about the concept, what kind of topic do I need ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views

Differentiable manifold in dimension 1 and its critical point

Please, I want to know how to define a differentiable manifold in dimension 1, and if the circle is a differentiable manifold in dimension $1$, and what is its critical point. Thank you.
2
votes
1answer
83 views

What is a tangential gradient?

If $\mathbb{R}_{+}^{n}$ is the half space $\{x\in\mathbb{R}^n\vert\ x_n>0\}$ and $u$ is a twice differentiable function in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$. If we write: \begin{equation} ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views

Why Can't we define the differentiation of vector fields in the same way as in $\mathbb{R^{n}}$

In $\mathbb{R^{n}}$, if $X$ is a vector field on $\mathbb{R^{n}}$, and $X=$$\sum_{i=1}^{i=n}$ $X^{i}$ $\frac{\partial}{\partial x^{i}}$, $X^{i}$ $\in$$C^{\infty}(p)$. Then 1.The differentiation of ...
8
votes
1answer
101 views

Is there a way to relate convexity to Gaussian curvature?

This is a vague question because I'm not sure what I want to ask. An ellipsoid has positive curvature everywhere, and bounds a convex subset of $\mathbb R^3$. What I want to say now is "It seems as ...
5
votes
1answer
85 views

For a differentiable map $\Phi$ between manifolds $M$ and $W$, what is $d\Phi?$ (Aubin)

I can't understand a passage from A Course in Differential Geometry by T. Aubin. First, there is Definition 2.6., which I posted in this question. And now there's this: $(\Phi_*)_P$ is nothing ...
4
votes
3answers
125 views

What is a tangent bundle? (Aubin)

Here's what I read in A Course in Differential Geometry by Thierry Aubin. 2.5. Definition. The tangent bundle $T(M)$ is $\bigcup_{P\in M} T_P(M).$ And then 2.6. Definition. Let $\Phi$ be a ...
3
votes
3answers
52 views

Definition of a tensor field

Could anybody explain to me the following: If $$T_{ij}=\nabla_i V_j-\nabla_j V_i$$ where $V_i$ is a covector field and $\nabla_i$ is the covariant derivative, then $T_{ij}$ is a tensor field. ...
2
votes
4answers
339 views

Definition for Covariant Derivative

What is simple definition of the covariant derivative that looks like the definition of the derivative of a function in calculus? definition of the derivative of a function in calculus is: $$\frac ...
5
votes
2answers
199 views

Why does the condition of a function being differentiable always require an open domain?

Going through Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds and in his definition of a differentiable function from a subset $A$ of $\mathbb{R}^n$ to $\mathbb{R}^m$, $f$ is said to be differentiable if it can be ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views

Question about definition of pullback as a smooth bundle map.

In Lee, there is an exercise involving the pullback that I can't understand. If $M,N$ are smooth manifolds and $F:M\to N$ is smooth, I am asked to show that the pullback $F^*$ is a smooth bundle map ...
3
votes
2answers
229 views

What exactly is a manifold?

Wikipedia's "Simple English" entry describes a 2D map of the Earth as a manifold of the planet Earth. Does this mean that in mathematics a manifold is essentially a representation of something that ...
0
votes
1answer
125 views

a question about definition of regular surface

While I am reading Do Carmo's differential geometry,I have several questions about the definition of regular surface. From condition 2,the author said : "...... $x^{-1}:V \cap S \rightarrow U$ ...
6
votes
1answer
161 views

Are these definitions of submanifold equivalent?

Let $M$ be a manifold – by which I mean a second countable Hausdorff smooth manifold. Here's an "obviously" correct definition of (embedded) submanifold: Definition A. A subspace $S$ of $M$ is a ...
0
votes
1answer
124 views

Locally Euclidean

A quick definition check: Would someone please tell me what "locally Euclidean" means when applied to a Riemannian metric? I have kind of an idea about it, for example when we multiply by a ...
3
votes
0answers
68 views

Closed / embedded surface

Given a closed surface in $\mathbb R^3$, is it necessarily an "embedded surface"? I think it is true, but that is just because I can't think of a closed surface for which we cannot construct a smooth ...
2
votes
2answers
578 views

A simple explanation of differential calculus and its link to geometry?

The wikipedia articles on differential calculus and differential geometry are quite long and not so straightforward for a layman like me. Is there a master of math vulgarization out there that could ...
1
vote
2answers
138 views

On the definition of jets

I have some problems with the definition of jets and it would be great if someone could help me here: In many books it is written, that the $r-th$ order jet $j^r_xf$ of a smooth function $f:M ...
1
vote
0answers
152 views

Is the extra condition in this definition superfluous?

I am learning Differential Geometry and someone told me that the second condition of a definition provided in books follows from the first and is hence superfluous. I cannot dispute it, so convince me ...
1
vote
1answer
172 views

Partial derivative notation: is that a projection function?

Consider the following definition: Let $(U,\phi)$ be a chart and $f$ a $C^\infty$ function on a manifold $M$ of dimension $n$. As a function into $\mathbb{R}^n$, $\phi$ has $n$ components ...
11
votes
4answers
744 views

Which is the “proper” definition of a geodesic curve?

I'm taking a course on differential geometry, and up until now I'd always thought that the definition of a geodesic is (loosely speaking) a curve on a surface with the minimal length between its ...