Some Basic Mathematica

A subplot of these notes is to show how a reader with regular access to Mathematica can store, in just three select files, the most useful Mathematica commands for surface theory. These are commands too lengthy for for constant retyping, but typed or copied--just once--into these Save files, they can be used immediately in all later work.

Errors are annoying; please report any you notice to  bon@math.ucla.edu.

Contents
       1. Fundamentals
       2. Surfaces
       3. Gaussian Curvature
       4. Isometries
       5. Plots

1. Fundamentals

References
[G] Gray, Alfred, "Modern Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces" (first or second edition), CRC Press, ~1000 pages. Organized as a geometry course, it contains an immense number of Mathematica commands.
[D] Don, Eugene, "Schaum's Outline of Mathematica", Prentice-Hall, ~350 pages. Elementary and explicit.
[W] Wolfram, Stephen, "The Mathematica Book" (versions 3,4,5), Wolfram Media, ~1400+ pages. A detailed account of how Mathematica works and what it can do.

Starting Up
A few details, notably how to start using Mathematica, depend on your particular computer system and are best learned locally--from documentation or other users.

Help
Our use of Mathematica code is limited and should not involve many problems. Mathematica's online help is quite good: For common terms, ?term will produce a descript-xion. Searching the Help menu will usually produce examples as well as more details.

In addition, Mathematica has excellent error notification, often useful in correcting bad typing.

==Syntax

• There are no prompts or termination symbols--except that a final semicolon suppresses display of the output. Input (new or old) is activated by the command Shift-RETURN or Shift- ENTER, and the input and resulting output are numbered.
• Parentheses (...) are used for algebraic grouping, brackets [...] for arguments of functions, and braces {...} for lists.
• Multiplication is given by an asterisk, e.g., x*y, but for an integer n only, nX=n*X, where X is not an integer. Exponents are given by a caret, e.g., x^2. (Multiplication can also be indicated by a blank space, though this risks error.)
• Colon-equal (:=) for definitions, e.g., z:=x+3; double equal signs for mathematical equations, e.g., x+y==1. Rarer: Single equal for assigning value to a variable, e.g., x=2;
• Previous outputs are called up by either names assigned by the user or %n for the nth output.
• Substitution by slash-dot. For example, if expr is an expression involving x and y, then expr /. {x -> 2u+1, y -> v^2} replaces every x in the expression by 2u+1 and every y by v².
• Extra spaces between characters are ignored, that is, two or more consecutive spaces are treated as a single space.

==Calculus notation

f[x_] := x^3-2x+1    or    g[u_,v_] := u*Cos[v]-u^2*Sin[v]

Here, as always, an underscore ( _ ) following a letter (or string) makes it a variable. Thus the function f defined above can be evaluated on u or 3.14 or a²+b², etc.

Derivatives (including partial derivatives) by    D[f[x],x]   or   D[g[u,v],v].

Definite Integrals by  Int[f[x], {x,a,b}]. For numerical integration, replace Int by NInt.

==Vectors and Matrices

Mathematica describes a matrix as a list of lists, the latter being its rows. For example, {{a,b},{c,d}} is a matrix and is treated as such in all contexts. To show it in the usual 2 × 2 form, apply the command MatrixForm.

The determinant of a square matrix m is given by Det[m].

The full power of the dot operator (.) appears only when matrices are involved. First, if p and q are properly sized matrices, then p.q is their product. Next, if m is an m × n matrix and v is an n-vector, then m .v gives the usual operation of m on v. Taking m=n=3 for example, if m1, m2, m3 are the rows of m and v={v1,v2,v3}, then Mathematica defines

m .v   to be   {m1.v, m2.v, m3.v}

This can be seen to be the result of m (in 3 × 3 form) matrix-multiplying the column-vector corresponding to v, with the resulting column-vector restated as a n-tuple. In this sense, Mathematica obeys the "column-vector convention."

==Curves

c[t_] := {2*Cos[t], 2*Sin[t], 3t}

gives a helix in R³. Then the vector derivative (i.e., velocity) is returned by D[c[t],t] and the second derivative by D[c[t],t,t], and so on.

2. Surfaces

x[u_,v_] := {2u*Cos[v],2u*Sin[v],3v}

gives a helicoid in R³.

Surfaces with parameters. A more general helicoid is defined by

helicoid[a_,b_][u_,v_] := [a*u*Cos[v],a*u*Sin[v],b*v].

Then helicoid[2,3] is the special case above.

For any parametrization x : D M, the metric components are defined to be

E = x_u x_u,   F = x_u x_v,   G = x_v x_v

These functions describe the way x distorts the Euclidean geometry of the plane region D in applying it to M. Specifically,

     E measures stretching (or compression) in the u-direction,
     F measures the change in angle between the u- and v-directions,
     G measures stretching (or compression) in the v-direction.

The metric components are expressed as follows by Mathematica:

    ee[x_][u_,v_] := Simplify[D[x[uu,vv],uu].D[x[uu,vv],uu]] /.{uu->,vv->v}

    ff[x_][u_,v_] := Simplify[D[x[uu,vv],uu].D[x[uu,vv],vv]] /.{uu->,vv->v}

    gg[x_][u_,v_] := Simplify[D[x[uu,vv],vv].D[x[uu,vv],vv]] /.{uu->,vv->v}

The dummy variables uu and vv are needed here to make ee[x], for instance, a real-valued function on D (note the dash-dot "/," substitution). Otherwise it would only be an expression in the specific variables u and v.
We usually represent capital letters (E) by double lower case letters (ee) since many capitals have special meaning for Mathematica.

==Comments

• "Simplify" is the principal Mathematica simplification weapon; however, it cannot be expected to give ideal results in every case. "FullSimplify" is stronger but slower. Thus human intervention is often required, either to do hands-on simplification or to use further computer commands such as "Factor" and "Expand."
  Of course, many results are inherently complicated, but this is usually not an obstacle to their further use by the computer
• The distinction between functions and expressions is always crucial.  Applying ee (a function that feeds on functions) to any parametrization x (a function) gives a real-valued function ee[x] which can be applied to any x1, x2, not just u,v. But ee[x[u,v]], for example, will fail, since x[u,v] isn't a function.
• These commands work for a mapping x into a Euclidean space Rⁿ of any dimension.

==Saving the commands  ee, ff, gg  in your Mathematica

These commands are probably the most frequently used throughout the geometry of surfaces. So instead of retyping them whenever they're needed, it's a good idea to save them in a dot-m file efg.m. Then in any later Mathematica session, input this file by:  << efg.m and all three commands (though not displayed) will be installed, ready for use.

Here's how to build the dot-m file:

• Open a new Mathematica page.
• Type the commands into it. Then from the Cell menu, make each of the three cells an Initialization Cell.
• Close this page and name it efg.nb. You will be given two choices:  pick "Create Auto Save Package." This produces the required file, efg.m.

A frequently occuring combination of the metric components is W = (EG-F²)^1/2, which Mathematica renders as

ww[x_][u_,v_] := Sqrt[Simplify[ee[x][u,v]*gg[x][u,v]-ff[x][u,v]^2]]

In the special case of a parametrized surface in R³, there is second set of functions, analogous to the metric components, but involving the second derivatives of x. In fact, L, M, and N are the normal components of x_uu, x_uv, and x_vv, respectively, that is,

L = x_uu U,    M = x_uv U,   N = x_vv U,

where U is the (unique up to sign) unit normal vector field of the surface. These functions describe, near each point, the shape of the surface in R³.

To express L, M, and N in Mathematica, note first that U is the unit vector in the direction of the cross product x_u× x_v. By a well known vector identity, the length of this cross product is just W=(EG-F²)^1/2, as above

Another vector identity asserts that the triple scalar product U.(V x W) equals the determinant of the matrix whose rows are U,V,W. Thus, writing ll (double el) for L,

    ll[x_][u_,v_] := Simplify[

       Det[{D[x[uu,vv],uu,uu],D[x[uu,vv],uu],D[x[uu,vv],vv]}] /

       ww[x][uu,vv]] /. {uu->u,vv->v}

The formulas for mm=M and nn=N are the same except that the double derivative uu,uu is replaced by uu,vv and vv,vv respectively.

==Saving the commands ee, ff, gg, ww, ll, mm, nn in your Mathematica

The procedure for building a dot-m file efgwlmn.m follows same pattern as that given above for efg.m, but with seven commands instead of three. It's economical to include ee, ff, gg since they're likely to be used whenever ll, mm, nn are.

3. Gaussian Curvature K

We give three commands for Gaussian curvature. The first, gaussK, is the fastest, but applies only to surfaces in R³. The second, tensorK, works for surfaces in any Rⁿ. The third, superK, is a simple extension of tensorK.

==gaussK

For a parametrized surface in R³, Gaussian curvature K is given by a standard formula:

K=(LN- M²)/(EG-F²),

The command gaussK results when Mathematica's expressions for E,F,G,L,M,N are substituted.

To describe the command gaussK we use a Module. This creates an enclave where local definitions can be made that cannot escape to the outside, so the desired formula can be expressed more simply.
In the module below, the names of the local variables are listed within braces {...}, next these variables are defined (each definition followed by a semicolon), then the formula for the command is given.

     gaussK[x_][u_,v_] := Module[{xu,xv,xuu,xuv,xvv},

xu=D[x[uu,vv],uu];   xv=D[x[uu,vv],vv];

xuu=D[x[uu,vv],uu,uu];

xuv=D[x[uu,vv],uu,vv];

xvv=D[x[uu,vv],vv,vv];

     Simplify[(Det[{xuu,xu,xv}]*Det[{xvv,xu,xv}]-Det[{xuv,xu,xv}]^2)/

(xu.xu*xv.xv-(xu.xv)^2)^2]]/.{uu->u,vv->v}

==Saving gaussK from the computer screen to your Mathematica

This a variant of the construction of efg.m described in Section 2.

• Open a new Mathematica page.
• From your computer screen, select the definition above, all in one batch.
• Copy it, and paste it into the Mathematica page as a single cell. (We gave the formula in Plain Text rather than Bold to ease this operation.)
• Using the Cell menu, designate this cell an Initialization Cell.
• Close this page, and save it as gaussK.nb. As before, you will then be given two choices; pick "Create Auto Save Package." and this produces the dot-m file gaussK.m.

Again, in any future Mathematica session, input the dot-m file by:  << gaussK.m and the command (though not displayed) will be installed, ready to use.
Note. Of course, instead of copy-and-paste as above, one can always just type in the command.

==tensorK

This command computes Gaussian curvature solely in terms of the metric components E, F, G. Thus it is the computational expression of Gauss's theorema egregium, which initiated modern differential geometry.
Again we use a module:

    tensorK[ee_,ff_,gg_][u_,v_] := Module[{w,e,f,g},

e=ee[uu,vv];   f=ff[uu,vv];   g=gg[uu,vv];

w=Simplify[Sqrt[e*g-f^2]];

    Simplify[(1/(2w))*

(D[(f*D[e,vv] - e*D[g,uu])/(e*w),uu] +

D[(2e*D[f,uu] - f*D[e,uu] - e*D[e,vv])/

    (e*w),vv])]] /.{uu->u,vv->v}

Wait to save tensorK till we reach an associated command.

==superK

Combining the four previous commands gives a command that finds the Gaussian curvature of any parametrization x: D Rⁿ.

superK[x_][u_,v_] := tensorK[ee[x],ff[x],gg[x]][u,v]

==Saving superK in a dot-m file

The command superK is meaningful in a Mathematica session only when tensorK is already installed--as well as the commands for ee, ff, gg given in Section 2.
Thus the simplest plan is to build a dot-m file containing all five: ee, ff, gg, tensorK, superK. This can be done as for the previous dot-m files, with tensorK and superK copied, but ee, ff, gg perhaps just typed in. (They are included to avoid having to remember to install them separately.)
We call the resulting file tensorsuperK.m, following Mathematica's style of long but descript-xive names.

==Testing superK

One of the examples in "Surfaces in R⁴⁺" involves the following mapping of R³ into R⁶:

H(x,y,z) := {x^2/Sqrt[2], y^2/Sqrt[2], z^2/Sqrt[2], x*y, y*z, z*x}

Restricting this map to the unit sphere in R³ leads to this parametrization of a surface in R⁶:

x[u_,v_] := H[x,y,z]/. {x->Cos[v]*Cos[u], y->Cos[v]*Sin[u], z->Sin[v]}

In context, we expect this surface to have Gaussian curvature +1, hence here we expect superK[x][u,v] to give +1.

A test of tensorK requires a detour.

==Abstract Surfaces

<U,U> = E,   <U,V> = F,    <V,V> = G,

where U and V are the unit vector fields in the u- and v-directions, respectively.

For example, on the disk D: r< 2 in R², define:

       eeh[u_,v_] := 1/(1-(u^2+v^2)/4)^2

       ffh[u_,v_] := 0

       ggh[u_,v_] := 1/(1-(u^2+v^2)/4)^2

These functions turn D into the hyperbolic plane (Poincaré disk model). To find its Gaussian curvature, neither gaussK or superK will work, since D does not derive its metric from a containing Euclidean space. But if all is well,  tensorK[eeh,ffh,ggh][u,v]  will give -1.

Historical Note: This model of the hyperbolic plane was found by Poincaré in the late 1800s. It may seem to be just a clever little artifact, but it served two important purposes:
   First, it pointed the way to Riemannian manifolds, the central objects of study in differential geometry. In such a manifold, the geometric structure is axiomatized without reference to any containing Euclidean space.
   Second, it presented a simple case of a difficult question: can the hyperbolic plane (or an isometric copy of it) be found in some Euclidean space? This question remained unanswered until 1956, when John Nash (of "A Beautiful Mind") proved that every Riemannian manifold can be found in a Euclidean spaceof sufficiently high dimension. Then an imbedding of the hyperbolic plane in R⁶ was soon found by Blanusa.

4. Isometries

A one-to-one differentiable mapping F: M M' is an isometry provided (*) each pair of tangent vectors v,w at a point of M is carried to tangent vectors v',w' on M' with the same inner product.

It follows that if c is a curve in M, then F(c) has the same length in M', and if G is a region in M then F(G) has the same area as G, and so on. When such an isometry exists, the surface M and M' are said to be isometric and to have the same intrinsic geometry. Gauss's theorema egregium asserts that Gaussian curvature is preserved by isometries and thus belongs to the intrinsic geometry of surfaces.

Intuitively, this geometry of M is what is observed by its inhabitants, who have no conception of the shape of M in any surrounding Euclidean space.

To find a computational expression of the (*) condition above, let x: D M be a coordinate patch. Then the coordinate vector fields x_u, x_v at any point of x(D) form a basis for all the tangent vectors at that point.

Now let y=F(x). Then x_u and x_v are carried to y_u and y_v. So

the (*) criterion holds for all tangent vectors <=> the (*) criterion holds for x_u and x_v <=> E=E', F=F', G=G'.

5. Plots

There are four basic types:

• Plot and Plot3D plot the graphs of real-valued functions of one and two variables, respectively. Examples:

        Plot[f[x]//Evaluate, {x,a,b}]

        Plot3D[g[x,y]//Evaluate, {x,a,b}, {y,c,d}]

• ParametricPlot plots the image of a parametrized curve in the plane R², and
• ParametricPlot3D plots the image of a parametrized curve or of a parametrization of a surface in R³.

ParametricPlot3D[x[u,v]//Evaluate, {u,0,1}, {v,0,}]

Plots can be refined in many, many ways by specifying values for various options. The form is option->value. For example, in

Plot[f[x]//Evaluate, {x,a,b}, AspectRatio->Automatic]

Mathematica is ordered to use the same scale on both axes, and in

ParametricPlot3D[x[u,v]//Evaluate, {u,0,1}, {v,0,}, Boxed->False]

the box ordinarily containing the figure does not appear.
The options available for a given command cmd, along with their default values, are listed by Options[cmd]. Then ?opt will give a descript-xion of the option.

Previously drawn (and named) plots can be shown on the same page by

Show[plot1, plot2,plot3]