For a compact oriented n-manifold with boundary M and a smooth (n−1)-form ω on M, ∫Mdω=∫∂Mω.
Why is it true?
This single identity unifies the fundamental theorem of calculus, Green's theorem, the divergence theorem, and the classical Stokes' theorem from vector calculus into one statement about differential forms, and is the analytic engine behind de Rham cohomology.
Proof sketch
Step 1 (local case, half-space). First suppose M=Hn={xn≥0} and ω has compact support in a single chart. Write ω=∑ifidx1∧⋯dxi⋯∧dxn. Then dω=∑i(−1)i−1∂xi∂fidx1∧⋯∧dxn, and ∫Hndω=∑i(−1)i−1∫∂xi∂fidx1⋯dxn.
For i<n, integrating ∂fi/∂xi over xi∈R first and using compact support gives 0 by the ordinary Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (fi→0 at xi=±∞). For i=n, integrating over xn∈[0,∞) gives ∫∂xn∂fndxn=[fn]0∞=−fn(x1,…,xn−1,0) (again using compact support at xn=∞), so only the i=n term survives: ∫Hndω=(−1)n−1∫Rn−1(−fn(x1,…,xn−1,0))dx1⋯dxn−1.
On the boundary ∂Hn={xn=0} (oriented so the outward normal −∂n comes last, giving orientation sign (−1)n), the restriction of ω is ω∣∂=fndx1∧⋯∧dxn−1 (all other terms restrict to 0 since they contain dxn or vanish on the slice). A direct sign check using the standard boundary orientation convention shows ∫∂Hnω=(−1)n∫fndx1⋯dxn−1, matching the formula above exactly. So ∫Hndω=∫∂Hnω in this local model.
Step 2 (partition of unity, globalize). For general M and general ω, cover M by finitely many charts {(Uα,φα)} (using compactness) and choose a smooth partition of unity{ρα} subordinate to this cover, i.e. ∑αρα=1 with suppρα⊂Uα. Write ω=∑αραω; each ραω has compact support inside a single chart, where the chart is either entirely interior (in which case ∫∂ραω=0 trivially and ∫Md(ραω)=0 by Step 1 applied to Rn with no boundary) or meets ∂M (Step 1 applies directly after transporting via φα, which preserves both d and orientation).
Since d is linear, dω=∑αd(ραω) (using ∑αdρα=d(∑αρα)=d(1)=0 to handle the cross terms dρα∧ω correctly when summed). Integrating and summing the local identities from Step 1 over all α: ∫Mdω=∑α∫Md(ραω)=∑α∫∂Mραω=∫∂Mω, which is exactly ∫Mdω=∫∂Mω.