Let $M$ be a compact connected $n$-manifold without boundary. Let $\mu\in\Omega^{n-1}(M)$, show that there exists a point $p\in M$ such that $d\mu(p)=0$.
De Rham Cohomology Question
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differential-topology
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4You can typeset mathematics as in LaTeX on this website: enclose mathematics in `$` or `$$` as appropriate. But please consider phrasing your question *as a question*, not as an order. – 2011-08-05
1 Answers
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First, assume that $M$ is oriented. Then, by Stokes's theorem, we have $\int_M d\mu = \int_{\partial M} \mu = 0$ since $\partial M = \emptyset$. This can't happen if $d\mu$ is never $0$.
If $M$ is nonorientable, let $N$ by any orientable cover of $M$ (say, the universal cover, or the orientation covering). Let $\pi:N\rightarrow M$ be the covering map.
Then by the previous case, $d(\pi^*\mu)$ is $0$ on some point $p$ of $N$. But $0 = d(\pi^*\mu) = \pi^* (d\mu)$. Since $\pi$ is a local diffeomorphism, $\pi^*$ induces an isomorphism from $\Omega(M)_{\pi(p)}\rightarrow \Omega(N)_{p}$. Since the image of $d\mu$ under this isomorphism is $0$, we must have $d\mu(\pi(p)) = 0$.
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0On second thought, one should definitely use the orientation covering as the universal cover may not be compact. – 2011-09-02