Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/iii/paper-15/3/b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 iii Paper 15 3 b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use coordinate charts from the chosen oriented atlas. In each, the matrix of the Riemannian metric is smooth and positive-definite, so and its positive square root is smooth. Define the local Riemannian volume form byIf is another positive coordinate chart and , the transformation rule for the metric tensor is . Taking determinants givesThe oriented atlas has , so the wedge product of differential forms transformation from part (a) givesThe local expressions therefore glue to a global smooth top-degree differential form. Its local coefficient never vanishes, so it is a volume form. The global answer is in positive charts. In an arbitrary negatively oriented chart the corresponding expression needs a minus sign; the orientation is essential to the form, although a positive metric volume density exists without it.
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