For a local parametrization , write the first fundamental form and second fundamental form as
The Gaussian curvature is
To prove the Theorema Egregium, set and decompose
Differentiating and solving for the tangential coefficients gives
so every Christoffel symbol depends only on and their first derivatives. Equality of mixed third derivatives yields the Gauss equation
The Riemann curvature tensor is formed from first derivatives and quadratic products of the Christoffel symbols, and hence from the first and second derivatives of . Consequently
depends only on the first fundamental form.
For a chosen unit normal field , the second fundamental form is
In a local parametrization , its coefficients, up to the equivalent simultaneous sign convention, are
The Gaussian curvature is the determinant of the shape operator, hence
Theorema Egregium states that is determined entirely by the first fundamental form. In particular, it is intrinsic and is preserved by every local isometry.
Gauss's Theorema Egregium expresses Gaussian curvature intrinsically from the first fundamental form, hence . Merely preserving curvature level sets is not sufficient: when is constant, every diffeomorphism does so, though most are not isometries.