Differential Geometry 1999. Exercises.

Michael Murray
September 18, 2002

Contents
1 Co-ordinate charts and manifolds. 1

2 Smooth functions. 2

3 Submanifolds. 3

4 Vector fields and differential forms. 3

5 Complex line bundles 4

1 Co-ordinate charts and manifolds.

Exercise 1.1. Consider the n sphere

S n = {x ∈ Rn+1 | kxk2 = 1}.

Let
Ui = {x ∈ S n | xi 6= 1} = S n − {ei }
where ei has all components 0 except the ith which is equal to one. If x is a point in Ui show that there
is a unique line through x and the vector ei . Show that this line intersects the plane

{x | xi = 0}

in exactly one point. Writing this point as

(ψi1 (x), ψi2 (x), . . . , ψii−1 (x), 0, ψii (x), . . . , ψin (x))

defines a function
ψi = (ψi1 , . . . , ψin ) : Ui → Rn .
Show that (Ui , ψi ) is a co-ordinate chart on S n and that

{(Ui , ψi ) | i = 1, . . . , n}.

is an atlas for S n .
The functions ψi are are said to arise by stereographic projection from ei onto the plane {x | xi = 0}.
Exercise 1.2. Consider the sphere S n again. Define

Ui+ = {x ∈ S n | xi > 0}

and define ψi+ : Ui+ → Rn by

ψi+ (x1 , . . . , xn+1 ) = (x1 , . . . , xi−1 , xi+1 , . . . , xn ).

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Show that (Ui+ , ψi+ ) is a co-ordinate chart for S n . Similarly define

Ui− = {x ∈ S n | xi < 0}

and define ψi− : Ui+ → Rn by

ψi− (x1 , . . . , xn+1 ) = (x1 , . . . , xi−1 , xi+1 , . . . , xn ).

Again show that (Ui− , ψi− ) is a co-ordinate chart for S n .

Show that
{(Ui+ , ψi+ ), (Ui− , ψi− ) | i = 1, . . . , n}
is an atlas for S n .
Exercise 1.3. Show that the atlases in Exercises 1.1 and 1.2 define the same maximal atlas on S n .
Exercise 1.4. Let RPn be the set of all lines (through the origin) in Rn+1 . This space is called real,
projective space of dimension n. If x is a non-zero vector in Rn+1 denote by [x] the line through x. Show
that [x] = [y] if and only if there is a non-zero real number λ such that x = λy.
Define subsets Ui of RPn by
Ui = {[x0 , . . . , xn ]|xi 6= 0}
and maps ϕi : Ui → Rn by

x0 xi−1 xi+1 xn
ϕi ([x0 , . . . , xn ]) = ( , . . . , , , . . . , )
xi xi xi xi
for every i = 0, . . . , n. Show that ϕi is well defined and that (Ui , ϕi ) is a co-ordinate chart on RPn . Show
that
{(Ui , ϕi )|i = 0, . . . , n}
is an atlas for RPn .
Exercise 1.5. Show that if M1 and M2 are manifolds then there is a natural way of making M1 × M2
into a manifold so that dim(M1 × M2 ) = dim(M1 ) + dim(M2 ).
Exercise 1.6. Repeat exercise (1.4) for Cn to define 2n dimensional complex projective space CPn as the
space of complex lines through zero in Cn+1 .

2 Smooth functions.
Exercise 2.1. Define h : R → R by
(
−1


exp 1−x2 if −1 < x < 1,
h(x) =
0 otherwise.

and show that h is smooth. By integrating h find a smooth function g : R → R with the property that
g(x) is zero for x < −1 and g(x) is one for x > 1. Show that for any  > δ > 0 there is a smooth function
φ : Rn → R with φ(x) equal to zero if kxk >  and φ equal to one if kxk < δ. Now consider a manifold
M and a point x. By using co-ordinates show that if U is any open subset of M containing x then there
are open subsets U1 and U2 with x ∈ U1 ⊂ U2 ⊂ U and a smooth function f : M → R with f equal to 1
on all of U1 and equal to zero outside of U2 .
Exercise 2.2. Let x be point in a manifold M . Let Xx be the set of all pairs (U, f ) where U is a open set
containing x and f : U → R is a smooth function. Define a relation on Xx by saying that (U, f ) ' (V, g)
if there is an open set W with x ∈ W ⊂ U ∩ V and f|W = g|V . Show that this an equivalence relation.
Equivalence classes are called germs at x and the set of them we will denote by G x . Show that Gx is an
algebra under pointwise addition, scalar multiplication and multiplication. If f ∈ C ∞ (M, R) the algebra
of all smooth functions on M it defines the germ containing (M, f ). Show that the map this induces
C ∞ (M, R) → Gx is onto. [Hint: Use 2.1.]

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Exercise 2.3. Consider the map F : R3 → R2 defined by
F (x, y, z) = (x2 + y 2 + z 2 − 9, x + y + z − 3).
If we identity the tangent spaces to R3 and R2 with R3 and R2 respectively calculate the tangent map
T(x,y,z) F : R3 → R2 .
Exercise 2.4. Define a map F : S 2 → CP1 by
F (x, y, z) = [x + iy, 1 − z].
By using the co-ordinates defined in Exercises (1.1) and (1.6) show that this map is well defined as z → 1
and that it is, in fact, a diffeomorphism.

3 Submanifolds.
Exercise 3.1. Show that the set defined by the equation
p
r2 − a2 = ( x2 + a2 − a)1/2
is a smooth submanifold of R3 if a and r are real numbers with r < a.
Exercise 3.2. Show that the following subset of R3 is a submanifold:
Q = {(x, y, z) | x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9 and x + y + z = 3}.

4 Vector fields and differential forms.

Exercise 4.1. Let X and Y be vector fields on a manifold M . Define a new vector field [X, Y ] by defining
it in local co-ordinates (U, φ) by
X ∂j i ∂X j
∂
[X, Y ]|U = Xi ∂φ − Yi .
i,j
Y ∂φi ∂φj

Show that this makes sense. That is it doesn’t really depend on the choice of co-ordinates. The vector
field [X, Y ] is called the Lie bracket of X and Y .
Exercise 4.2. If X is a vector field and ω is a differential 1-form show that the differential 1-form defined
by
X ∂ωj ∂X i

LX (ω) = X i i + ωi j dθj .
i,j
∂θ ∂θ
where
X ∂ X
X= Xi and ω = ωi dθi
i
∂θi i
is actually independent of the choices of co-ordinates. We call LX (ω) the Lie derivative of ω by X.
Exercise 4.3. Let α and β be p and q forms, respectively on a manifold M . Show that
d(α ∧ β) = dα ∧ β + (−1)p α ∧ dβ.
Exercise 4.4. Consider the circle S 1 = {(x, y) | x2 + y 2 = 1}. This is a manifold of dimension 1. The
circle has a co-ordinate chart (U, θ) where U = S 1 − {(1, 0)} and θ : U → (0, 2π) is defined implicitly by
(x, y) = (cos(θ(x, y)), sin(θ(x, y))).
That is θ is the usual angle co-ordinate in polar co-ordinates. Identify the tangent space to the circle at
(x, y) with the line in R2 tangential to the circle at (x, y). Calculate a formula for the vector field ∂/∂θ
in terms of x and y and hence show that it extends from U to a vector field on all of S 1 . Show that dθ
also extends to a differential 1-form ω on all of the circle. Show that there is no function f : S 1 → R
such that ω = df .

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Exercise 4.5. Let S 2 = {x ∈ R3 |kxk2 = 1} be the two-sphere. Recall that the spherical co-ordinates
(θ, φ) of the point (x, y, z) on the two-sphere are defined by requiring that:

x = sin(ψ) cos(θ)
y = sin(ψ) sin(θ)
z = cos(ψ).

Find an open set U ⊂ S 2 for the domain of the spherical co-ordinates so that ψ ∈ (0, π) and θ ∈ (0, 2π).
For any x in S 2 and X, Y ∈ Tx S 2 define a differential two-form ω on S 2 by ωx (X, Y ) = hx, X × Y i,
where h , i is the usual inner-product on R3 and x is the cross-product of three vectors. By using suitable
co-ordinates (spherical are good) calculate the integral of ω over S 2 and show that it is non-zero.
Exercise 4.6. Show that it is not possible to find a differential one-form µ on the two sphere such that
dµ is the volume form ω defined in exercise (4.5).
Exercise 4.7. Consider the torus T 2 in R3 with co-ordinates (θ, φ) defined implicitly by

x = (b + a sin(φ)) cos(θ), (b + a sin(φ)) sin(θ), a cos(φ)).

Calculate ∂/∂ψ and ∂/∂θ. Calculate the (outward) unit normal n(x) to the torus, this is the vector
in R3 orthogonal to the tangent space to the torus at x. You will need to draw a picture or something to
check it is the outward normal.
Define vol a two-form by vol(X, Y ) = hn, X × Y i and calculate its integral over T 2 when we orient
2
T in such a way as to make vol positive.
Exercise 4.8. Recall the definition of RP2 the space all lines through the origin in R2 and its associated
co-ordinate charts given in Exercise 1.4. Calculate the linear relationship between the basis of one forms
dψi1 , dψi2 and the basis of one forms dψj1 , dψj2 for i 6= j. Hence calculate the relationship between dψi1 ∧dψi2
and dψj1 ∧ dψj2 . Show that RP2 is not orientable.
Exercise 4.9. Let f : M → N be a smooth map. If ω is a p-form on N show that df ∗ (ω) = f ∗ dω.

5 Complex line bundles

Exercise 5.1. Let ∇0 and ∇1 be connections on a complex line bundle L and define

∇t (φ) = t∇1 (φ) + (1 − t)∇0 (φ)

for any section φ of L. Show that ∇t is a connection for any real number t. Calculate its curvature.
Exercise 5.2. Show that if L → M is a trivial bundle then it has zero Chern class.
Exercise 5.3. Consider the Hopf bundle H over CP1 . Define parameters on U0 = CP1 − [1, 0] by (x, y) 7→
[x + iy, 1]. Let s0 ([x + iy, 1]) = ([x + iy, 1], (x + iy, 1)) be the section defined in class. Using (hermitian)
orthogonal projection define a connection ∇ on H and calculate the connection one form A 0 . Be careful
to make the orthogonal projection complex linear. Calculate the curvature over the open set U 0 and
integrate it over U0 to find the Chern class of H. You may find it convenient to work with the complex
differential forms dz = dx + idy and dz̄ = dx − idy.
Exercise 5.4. Consider the tangent bundle to the two-sphere. Give it the connection defined by orthogonal
projection and calculate its curvature and hence the chern class of the tangent bundle to the two-sphere.
Exercise 5.5. Repeat Exercise 5.4 for the torus using the co-ordinates defined in Exercise 4.7.
Exercise 5.6. This assumes you are familiar with the Gauss-Bonnet theorem. If Σ is a closed surface in
R3 define a connection on its tangent bundle by using orthogonal projection. Relate the curvature of this
connection to the usual Gaussian curvature.