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Integral Curvature

Given a Geodesic Triangle (a triangle formed by the arcs of three Geodesics on a smooth surface),

\begin{displaymath}
\int_{ABC} K\,da = A+B+C-\pi.
\end{displaymath}

Given the Euler Characteristic $\chi$,

\begin{displaymath}
\int\!\!\!\int K\,da =2\pi\chi,
\end{displaymath}

so the integral curvature of a closed surface is not altered by a topological transformation.

See also Gauss-Bonnet Formula, Geodesic Triangle




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-26