Frobenius theorem (local)

A rank r distribution D on an n-dimensional manifold M is involutive if and only if for every pM there exists a coordinate chart (U,φ=(x1,,xn)) such that

D=S({φ1(x1),,φ1(xr)})

(that is, it is completely integrable distribution).
Equivalently, the dual description of the distribution would be

D=S({dxr+1,,dxn})

Poof. It uses the canonical form of commuting vector fields.

Therefore, Frobenius theorem tells us that involutive distributions have neighbourhoods in which there exist integral submanifolds crossing any given point, with the biggest dimension possible. They are described by:

N(cr+1,,cn):={qU:xi(q)=ci, for i=r+1,,n}

In infinite dimension, i.e., a Banach manifold, Frobenius theorem states that a subundle of the tangent bundle is integrable iff it is involutive. See the section Banach manifolds in this link.

As a particular case we have the rank 1 distributions, that are always involutive and, therefore, always have integral manifolds called, in this case, integral lines. See canonical form of a regular vector field.

See also global Frobenius theorem.