 Determinant cone for real symmetric two-by-two matrices

The singular real symmetric matrices of size two form the double cone $z^2=x^2+y^2$ in these coordinates. Its complement has three connected components: $z>\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ is positive definite, $z<-\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ is negative definite, and $|z|<\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ is indefinite. This follows also from the eigenvalues $z\pm \sqrt{x^2+y^2}$. The definite cones are convex. In the indefinite region, first move $z$ to zero, then move the nonzero planar vector $(x,y)$ within the punctured plane, proving path-connectedness. Continuous determinant and trace signs prevent joining different regions without crossing singular matrices.