# Understanding the definition and meaning of cotangent space

I would like to understand definition and also meaning of cotangent space. Let's first of all define tangent space: generally we know that equation of tangent line of function $f(x)$ at point $x_0$ is equal to

$$y=f(x_0)+f'(x_0)*(x-x_0)$$

Is tangent space somehow related to tangent lines? For example, family of tangent lines? According to Wikipedia, cotangent space is a dual of tangent space; as I know duality for example in vectors means that take a vector and produce scalar, general definition of tangent space is given on the following mathematics site

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TangentSpace.html

According to this, I understood that if we have point $x$ in compact manifold $M$, and if we attach at $x$ a copy of $n$-dimensional real space as a tangent to $M$, then resulting space is tangent space, so does it means that at given point $x$, we are attaching $\mathbb{R}^n$ space as a tangent to $M$? If so, then what does cotangent do? Does it take vector from tangent space and produce scalar?

• Please remember that sentences should start with capital letters, that the personal pronoun I should be capitalized, and that (most) punctuation should be followed by a space. It's much easier to read a question when it follows standard rules of grammar. Sep 8, 2013 at 15:43
• thanks thanks,sorry for this Sep 8, 2013 at 16:17

One possible way of defining tangent space to a manifold is to say that it is the possible values of tangencies that a path $\gamma(t)$ in the space can have. i.e. it is the vector space of all possible derivatives of maps from the interval into the manifold.
If you consider a surface embedded in $\mathbb{R}^3$ (picture a sphere or something simple... like a soccer ball), and you imagine an ant who is condemned to live on the surface of the ball. Consider all velocity vectors the ant is allowed to have when he passes through a specific spot on the ball. This gives you the tangent space at that point.
In other words, the tangent bundle consists of values of derivatives of maps $\gamma \colon \mathbb{R} \to M$ and the cotangent bundle tells you about differentials of maps $f \colon M \to \mathbb{R}$.