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Manifold

371 bytes added, 22:12, June 30, 2008
[[Image:Mobius.png|right|thumb|The [[Möbius strip]] is an example of a 2-manifold.]]
An ''n''-dimensional manifold (or ''n''-manifold) ''M'' is a [[topological space]] such that every point in ''M'' has a neighbourhood ''U'' that is [[homeomorphism|homeomorphic]] to ''R''<sup>''n''</sup>. The homeomorphisms <math>\phi_U : U\rightarrow \mathbf{R}^n</math> should be thought of as providing local coordinates in the neighborhood ''U''. Whenever two such coordinate neighborhoods ''U'' and ''V'' intersect, we also require that the change of coordinate maps <math>\phi_U\circ\phi_V^{-1}:\phi_V(U\cap V)\rightarrow \phi_U(U\cap V)</math> be homeomorphisms.
An ''n''-dimensional complex manifold ''N'' is a [[topological space]] such that every point in ''N'' has a neighbourhood that is [[homeomorphism|homeomorphic]] to '''C'''<sup>''n''</sup>.
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