Structuring the graph of |x| so it is not a smooth manifold

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The discussion focuses on the challenge of structuring the graph of the absolute value function |x| as a topological manifold that is not smooth. While it's easy to assign a smooth structure to this manifold, the goal is to find a reasonable topological description that maintains its non-smoothness. The inquiry seeks a canonical differential structure for embeddings of R^n, ensuring that the manifold is smooth only when the underlying function is smooth. Participants emphasize the importance of standard definitions, including subspace topology and C-infinity smoothness. The conversation highlights the complexities of differentiating between smooth and non-smooth manifolds in mathematical contexts.
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Hello,

I am learning about smooth manifolds through Lee's text. One thing that I have been pondering is describing manifolds such as |x| which are extremely well behaved but not smooth in an ordinary setting.

It is simple to put a smooth structure on this manifold, however that is unsatisfactory for what I am envisioning. Can you help me think of a reasonable topological manifold which describes this set, but is not smooth?

I suppose what I am really looking for is some sort of canonical differential structure to give to embeddings of R^n that when looking at graphs of real valued functions, the manifold would be smooth if and only if the function is smooth.

Standard and usual definitions apply, e.g. subspace topology, smooth means C-infinity

Thanks!
 
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shoescreen said:
Hello,

I am learning about smooth manifolds through Lee's text. One thing that I have been pondering is describing manifolds such as |x| which are extremely well behaved but not smooth in an ordinary setting.

It is simple to put a smooth structure on this manifold, however that is unsatisfactory for what I am envisioning. Can you help me think of a reasonable topological manifold which describes this set, but is not smooth?

I suppose what I am really looking for is some sort of canonical differential structure to give to embeddings of R^n that when looking at graphs of real valued functions, the manifold would be smooth if and only if the function is smooth.

Standard and usual definitions apply, e.g. subspace topology, smooth means C-infinity

Thanks!

the embedded manifold will be smooth if at each of its points there is an open neighborhood in the ambient manifold whose intersection with the embedded manifold is diffeomorphic to an open subset of R^n.
 

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