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Tangent Space

Undergraduate

Definition

Vector space of all possible "directions" at a point on manifold

Formulas

Tₚ M = γ'(0) : γ(0) = p
Dimension: dim Tₚ M = dim M
Basis: ∂/∂xⁱ |ₚ

Examples

Example 1

Tangent space of plane = ℝ²

Example 2

Tangent plane of sphere

Applications

Vector fields

Differential forms

Physics

Related Documents

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