Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2017 / Prelims / Mathematics V resit / Question 1 / a

Put $r=\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$. The definitions of the parabolic polar coordinates give $u^2=x+r$ and $v^2=-x+r$. Subtracting and multiplying these equations yieldsSince $u,v,y\ge 0$, taking the nonnegative square root givesThe Jacobian matrix has columns $(u,v)$ and $(-v,u)$. Its Jacobian determinant is thereforeHere the displayed fraction denotes the Jacobian determinant, as in the paper. The change of variables formula consequently gives $dxdy=(u^2+v^2)dudv$. The Jacobian determinant is positive except at the origin, and the definitions supply the unique nonnegative inverse throughout the region $y\ge 0$.