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TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-generatedprecheck passjudge pass (gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-09-05
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Frobenius local coordinate theorem

Statement

Let D be a rank-k smooth distribution on an n-manifold M. Then the following are equivalent:

  1. D is integrable.
  2. D is involutive.

When these conditions hold, every point pM has a coordinate neighborhood (x1,,xn) in which

D=span ⁣(x1,,xk).

Facts & Assumptions

Given: A rank-k smooth distribution D on M and a point pM.

[A1]

Assume first that D is integrable.

Proof

technique · direct
1.1

If D is integrable, then it is involutive by the necessity [given] proposition. This proves 1 => 2.

given
1.2

Now assume D is involutive. For k=0 the distribution is [given] zero, and for k=n it is all of TM, so the displayed coordinate form is immediate. Thus only the case 1k<n needs work.

givencases
1.3

Choose a local frame X1,,Xk of D near p with [given] X1(p)0. By the frame-reduction lemma, after shrinking there are local sections Y2,,Yk such that X1,Y2,,Yk frames D, each Yj is tangent to the slices of a flow-box chart for X1, and [X1,Yj]=0 for all j2. Let S be the slice x1=0 in that flow-box chart, and write Vj:=YjS. Then V2,,Vk are pointwise independent vector fields on the (n1)-manifold S. Because [Yi,Yj]Γ(D) and each Yj is tangent to the slices, the restrictions [Vi,Vj]=[Yi,Yj]S lie in the span of V2,,Vk. Hence those Vj span an involutive rank-(k1) distribution on S.

givenconstruct
1.4

Apply the theorem inductively on the rank to that distribution on S. [given] There are local coordinates (x2,,xk,xk+1,,xn) on S in which span(V2,,Vk)=span(x2,,xk). Extend these coordinates off S by keeping them constant along the X1-flow, and use the flow parameter as x1. Then X1=x1. Since each Yj commutes with X1, its coefficients in these flow-box coordinates are constant along the X1-flow, so the span identity on S extends to span(Y2,,Yk)=span(x2,,xk). Therefore D=span(x1,,xk) on a neighborhood of p.

givenconstruct
1.5

In those coordinates, the slices with [given] xk+1,,xn fixed are integral manifolds of D. Thus the involutive case is integrable, proving 2 => 1.

givenconstruct
2.1

Hence integrability and involutivity are equivalent, and in the involutive [given] case the distribution is locally flat in coordinates as stated.

given

Depends on

Used by

Dependency tree · two levels

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Sources