For a f:U→Rnf:U\to\mathbb{R}^n, where U⊆RnU\subseteq\mathbb{R}^n, the Jacobian determinant of ff at a∈Ua\in U is the of its :

det⁡Jf(a).\det Jf(a).

The Jacobian determinant controls local invertibility and local volume scaling: nonvanishing of det⁡Jf(a)\det Jf(a) is the hypothesis of the , and it appears in the for integrals.

Examples
  • For the f(x,y)=(2x,3y)f(x,y)=(2x,3y), one has det⁡Jf(x,y)=6\det Jf(x,y)=6 for all (x,y)(x,y).
  • For f(r,θ)=(rcos⁡θ,rsin⁡θ)f(r,\theta)=(r\cos\theta,r\sin\theta), the Jacobian determinant is det⁡Jf(r,θ)=r\det Jf(r,\theta)=r.