Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ii/paper-3/23h/a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 ii Paper 3 23H a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
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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