Proving a space is a manifold Given a topological space defined as $A=A_1 \cup A_2$ with
$A_1=\{(x,y) \in R^2 \space \space|\space \space x^2+y^2=1, x<0\}$, 
$A_2=\{(x,y) \in R^2 \space \space|\space \space |x|+|y|=1, x\geq0\}$.
Show that $A$ is a one-dimensional manifold. 
So if we omit all the tiny details (e.g. showing $A$ is Hausdorff, connected etc.) and just get to the point of finding a differentiable structure on $A$, we need to find a collection of charts $(U_i, \phi_i)$ s.t. $A=\cup_iA_i$ and that the transition functions $\phi_j \circ \phi_i^{-1}$ are $C^{\infty}$.
So if I start by defining the subsets 
$U_1=\{(x,y) \in A : y>0\}$
$U_2=\{(x,y) \in A : y<0\}$
$U_3=\{(x,y) \in A : x>0\}$
$U_4=\{(x,y) \in A : x<0\}$
it's clear $A=\cup_iA_i$. But what about the maps? Let's say I take:
$\phi_1=x$
$\phi_2=x$
$\phi_3=y$
$\phi_4=y$
However, I've just thought of these off the top my head without any justification other than the fact the variable for $\phi_i$ is different from the restricted variable in the subset $U_i$. (I don't even know why I'm doing that!) There must be some small trick that tells me how to chose my maps once I've defined my subsets?
I'm quite sure $\phi_j \circ \phi_i^{-1}$ are $C^{\infty}$, but how can I show this? In words I could probably explain it, but writing something mathematically correct is a bit different. What about e.g.:
$\phi_1(x,y)=x \implies \phi_1^{-1}(x)=(x,y) \implies \phi_3 \circ \phi_1^{-1}=\phi_3 ( \phi_1^{-1}(x)) = \phi_3 (x,y)=y$?
Which is obviously $C^{\infty}$. But I'm not convinced I've done that right. Any help?
 A: So, taking your coordinate chart maps, let's compute the transition maps.
On $U_{1} \cap U_{3}$: For $t \in \phi_{3}(U_{1} \cap U_{3}) \subseteq \mathbb{R}$, we have
$$\phi_{1} \circ \phi_{3}^{-1}(t) = \phi_{1}(1 - t, t) = 1 - t$$
which is nice and $C^{\infty}$. Also, 
$$\phi_{3} \circ \phi_{1}^{-1}(t) = \phi_3(t, \sqrt{1 - t^{2}}) = \sqrt{1 - t^{2}}$$
which is not $C^{\infty}$ at $t = 1$ but that value is not in $\phi_{1}(U_{1} \cap U_{3}).$ So, these two transition maps are $C^{\infty}$ and the checks in the other charts are almost the same.
Edit: I made a pretty big mistake in the second computation (which would hold for $U_{2} \cap U_{3}$ not for the other direction of the map). 
For $t \in \phi_{1}(U_{1} \cap U_{3})$, $\phi_{1}^{-1}$ maps into the first quadrant. Hence, we should have
$$\begin{align*}
\phi_{3} \circ \phi_{1}^{-1}(t) &= \phi_{3}(t, 1- t) \\
&\text{because $t$ must be the $x$ coordinate and }\\
&\text{$1- t$ is the $y$ coordinate for such points in the first quadrant}\\
&= 1 - t \end{align*}$$
This is still smooth. The computation I had previously done by mistake should have been done for $U_{1} \cap U_{4}.$
A: Your space $A\subset{\mathbb R}^2$ is homeomorphic to $S^1\subset{\mathbb R}^2$ via
$$f:\quad A\to S^1,\qquad {\bf z}\mapsto{{\bf z}\over |{\bf z}|}\ .$$
As $|{\bf z}|\geq{1\over\sqrt{2}}$ on $A$ this  $f$ is continuous, and furthermore it is obviously a bijection. It follows that $f$ is a homeomorphism.
Now you could transport the differentiable structure on $S^1$ via $f\>$ to $A$, and then $A$ would become a smooth manifold. In addition the  $C^\infty$ structure on $A$ would be compatible with the topological structure $A$ has inherited from ${\mathbb R}^2$. 
But your space $A$ is not a smooth submanifold of ${\mathbb R}^2$ because of the kinks at $(0,\pm1)$. There is no window $W:=[-h,h]\times[1-h,1+h]$ such that $A\cap W$ can be written as a graph $$y=\phi(x)\qquad(-h<x<h)$$
with $\phi\in C^\infty$.
