Paper 4, Section II, G

Geometry
Part IB, 2012

Let ΣR3\Sigma \subset \mathbb{R}^{3} be a smooth closed surface. Define the principal curvatures κmax\kappa_{\max } and κmin\kappa_{\min } at a point pΣp \in \Sigma. Prove that the Gauss curvature at pp is the product of the two principal curvatures.

A point pΣp \in \Sigma is called a parabolic point if at least one of the two principal curvatures vanishes. Suppose ΠR3\Pi \subset \mathbb{R}^{3} is a plane and Σ\Sigma is tangent to Π\Pi along a smooth closed curve C=ΠΣΣC=\Pi \cap \Sigma \subset \Sigma. Show that CC is composed of parabolic points.

Can both principal curvatures vanish at a point of CC ? Briefly justify your answer.