Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/iii/paper-118/3/a/solution

A connection on a vector bundle is a real-linear map (complex-linear for a complex bundle)
It extends to the covariant exterior derivative by when has degree . Its square is linear over smooth functions: in the two terms have opposite signs and . The curvature form of a connection is therefore the endomorphism-valued two-form
In a local frame with , it is .
Define the tensor product connection on decomposable sections by
The Leibniz rule for makes this well-defined over smooth functions and makes it a connection on a vector bundle. Applying its covariant exterior derivative again gives
The mixed terms cancel by the graded sign. Thus curvature adds on the two tensor factors:
Equivalently, the mixed terms in cancel because operators on the different factors commute. This also proves the curvature of a tensor product connection formula in local frames.

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