Proving that the general linear group is a differentiable manifold

Here are some hints:

  • $\mathbb{R}^{n^2}$ is trivially a smooth manifold.

  • The determinant map $$\det: \mathbb{R}^{n^2} \longrightarrow \mathbb{R},$$ which we define by considering elements of $\mathbb{R}^{n^2}$ as $n \times n$ matrices, is continuous (it is a polynomial in the entries of the matrix). Then $$\mathrm{GL}(n; \mathbb{R}) = \mathrm{det}^{-1}(\mathbb{R}\setminus\{0\})$$ is an open subset of $\mathbb{R}^{n^2}$.

  • Now show that an open subset of a smooth manifold is itself a smooth manifold with the obvious smooth structure.

If you need more clarification, let me know.


Construct a map $f:M_n(\mathbb{R}) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ by taking each matrix to its determinant, where $M_n(\mathbb{R})$ is the set of all $n \times n$ matrices. $f^{-1}(\mathbb{R}\backslash\{0\})=GL_n(\mathbb{R})$, and $\mathbb{R}\backslash\{0\}$ is an open subset of $\mathbb{R}$. Therefore, $GL_n(\mathbb{R})$ is an open subset of $M_n(\mathbb{R})$. I'll leave the rest to you.