Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ii/paper-3/23h/a/solution

For an oriented surface with unit normal , the Gauss map sends to . The shape operator is on the tangent plane; its eigenvalues are the principal curvatures . The Gaussian curvature is and the mean curvature is . Reversing orientation reverses both principal curvatures and , but preserves . The Theorema Egregium says that Gaussian curvature is determined by the first fundamental form, so is invariant under local isometries.

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