Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/ii/paper-4/25g/a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2023 ii Paper 4 25G a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
For a positively oriented local parametrization with first fundamental formthe area element of a surface isUnder an orientation-preserving coordinate change, the Jacobian from cancels the inverse Jacobian in the square root of the metric determinant. Hence these local expressions agree and define a global two-form.
The Euler characteristic may be defined from any finite triangulation byor equivalently by the alternating sum of the dimensions of the rational homology groups. Subdivision leaves unchanged, and the homological formula shows that it is a topological invariant, so the definition does not depend on the triangulation.
Give the boundary its induced orientation and parametrize it by arc length. If is its unit tangent and is the chosen unit normal to the surface, its signed geodesic curvature iswhere is the surface covariant derivative. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem for a compact oriented surface with smooth boundary and no corners iswhere is the Gaussian curvature.
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