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See the wiki page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toponogov%27s_theorem

One consequence of the Toponogov comparison Theorem is that if the sectional curvature of a manifold $M$ is pinched below by a number $\delta$. Let $pqr$ be a geodesic triangle, i.e. a triangle whose sides are geodesics, in $M$, such that the geodesic $pq$ is minimal. Let $p′q′r′$ be a geodesic triangle in the model space $M_\delta$, i.e. the simply connected space of constant curvature $\delta$, such that the length of sides $p′q′$ and $p′r′$is equal to that of $pq$ and $pr$ respectively and the angle at $p′$ is equal to that at $p$.

Then $d(q,r) \le d(q',r').$

The wiki then claim that "When the sectional curvature is bounded from above, a corollary to the Rauch comparison theorem yields an analogous statement, but with the reverse inequality."

Is this true? If so, can someone please provide a reference to this? It seems a bit weird to me since the statement of Rauch Theorem is symmetric, if this reverse statement is a corollary of Rauch Theorem, why isn't Toponogov Theorem also a corollary?

Any comments and references are welcome.

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  • $\begingroup$ My favourite notes on this topic are those of Eschenberg. Perhaps you can find what you are looking for there? In particular, Topogonov is proven as a corollary of Rauch. $\endgroup$
    – Paul Bryan
    Commented Apr 3, 2017 at 1:19

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Rauch's comparison local result, while Toponogov's comparison is global.

For the upper curvature bound an analog of Toponogov's comparison holds only locally and indeed it follows from Rauch's comparison. There is a gloabal version for upper comparison --- the so-called (generalized) Hadamard--Cartan theorem [9.65+9.67 in our book]: For the curvature bound $\kappa\le 0$ it has an addition assumption that space is simply connected. If $\kappa=1$ then one has to assume that any closed curve shorter than $2\cdot\pi$ can be contracted in the class of closed curves shorter than $2\cdot\pi$. (The case $\kappa>0$ can be reduced to $\kappa=1$ by rescaling.)

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  • $\begingroup$ Could you please give a reference where I can find the local and global versions for upper comparison, or give actual proof? $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 31, 2019 at 16:22
  • $\begingroup$ @AntonPetrunin Unfortunately, the link has died. $\endgroup$
    – gpr1
    Commented Jan 25, 2023 at 11:48
  • $\begingroup$ @gpr1 I added a ref in the answer. $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 25, 2023 at 21:48

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