Is a C^1 diffeomorphism with f of class C^k also a C^k diffeomorphism?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of a C^1 diffeomorphism and whether a function f of class C^k can also be classified as a C^k diffeomorphism. The context includes mathematical reasoning related to differential geometry and the application of the Chain Rule and the Inverse Function Theorem.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the hint in the exercise regarding the partial derivative of the composition f f^{-1} being identically zero, expressing confusion about its implications.
  • Another participant suggests that the hint may contain a typo and proposes that the correct interpretation involves using the Chain Rule and the identity map.
  • A third participant notes the fundamental property of diffeomorphisms, stating that f(f^{-1}(x)) = x for a vector x.
  • A later reply discusses the relationship between the derivatives of f and its inverse, asserting that the invertibility of the Jacobian leads to the conclusion that the partial derivatives of the inverse function are C^{k-1}, implying that f^{-1} is C^k.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying interpretations of the hint and its implications, with no consensus reached on the correctness of the original statement or the proposed corrections. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the clarity of the hint and its application.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the hint's accuracy and the definitions of the functions involved. The discussion also reflects uncertainty about the application of the Chain Rule and the Inverse Function Theorem in this context.

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I am studying Choquet-Bruhat's Introduction to General Relativity, Black Holes and Cosmology, and I don't follow the hint in Exercise I.2.1:

Exercise I.2.1 Let U,V be open subsets of R^d. Prove that a C^1 diffeomorphism f:U-->V with f of class C^k is a C^k diffeomorphism.

Hint: ##\partial (f f^{-1})/ \partial x^i \equiv 0##.

Isn't f f^{-1} the identity map, and then how is the claimed partial identically zero? And how is this useful? Are we then meant to use the Chain Rule?
I would be grateful for any help! Thanks!

[Moderator's note: Moved from SR/GR.]
 
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Actually, I now realize that the Chain Rule does help, and probably the "0" in the hint is a typo, and is probably meant to be an identity, with the partial derivative replaced by derivative of as a map from R^d to R^d.
Then f o f^{-1}=id , the Chain Rule , and the Inverse Function Theorem can be used to show that f^{-1} is C^k too.
 
All I can think of is that if f is a diffeomorphism, then ##f(f^{-1}(x))=x ##. But this is for a vector ##x=(x_1,...,x_d)##
 
As $f\circ f^{-1}=\textrm{id}$, we obtain $(Df)(f^{-1}(x))\cdot (Df^{-1})(x)=\textrm{id}$, and so we see that $(Df)(f^{-1}(x))$ is an invertible matrix, and also $(Df^{-1})(x)=((Df)(f^{-1}(x)))^{-1}$, and by Cramer's Rule,
we see that the $(i,j)$th entry of $Df^{-1}(x)$ is given by a polynomial combination of the partials of $f$, divided by the nonzero Jacobian determinant of $Df$. As both of the latter are $C^{k-1}$, it follows that the partials of $Df^{-1}$ are also $C^{k-1}$, and so $f^{-1}$ is $C^k$.
 

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