TITLE: Quick definition of the tangent space
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: I am looking for a quick definition of the tangent space $T_p M$, where $p$ is a point of a smooth manifold $M$. I mean a definition that allows easily to prove that: (1) $T_p M$ is a vector space of the same dimension of $M$; (2) if $x^1, x^2, \ldots,x^d$ are local coordinates functions then $\partial / \partial x^i|_p$ is a basis of $T_p M$; (3) The elements of $T_p M$ are the same thing of derivations of functions definited on a neighborhood of $p$ (W. Warner, Foundations of Differentiable Manifolds, called them "germs" and denoted their set by $\tilde{F}_p$).
Surely the old-style definition of $T_p M$ by equivalence classes of curves which passes through $p$ is inadequate.
The definition of $T_p M$ like the vector space of derivations of germs is, obviously, OK for the point (3) but seems to me that points (2) and (1) require to look at the cotangent space $T_p^* M$. I do not like to talk about the cotangent space before I have finished to talk about the tangent space.
I saw that someone defines the cotangent space first and then the tangent space, however the Warner definition of cotangent space like $\tilde{F}_p / \tilde{F}_p^2$, where $\tilde{F}_p^2$ is the ideal of finite linear combinations of product of two germs, I think it is rather artificial, and justifiable only in retrospect.
In conclusion I really appreciate any advice on how to define $T_p M$ so that (1), (2) and (3) are easy to prove. Thanks.

REPLY [5 votes]: Let $p\in M$ and $q\in N$ be points. Given two smooth maps $M\to N$ both taking $p$ to $q$ (each maybe only defined in a neighborhood of $p$), call them first-order equivalent if when expressed in terms of coordinates in both manifolds they have the same first derivatives at $p$. Call the equivalence classes $1$-jets $(M,p)\to (N,q)$.
Define cotangent vectors of $M$ at $p$ to be $1$-jets $(M,p)\to(\mathbb R,0)$. These clearly form a vector space. Show that it is isomorphic to $\mathfrak m/\mathfrak m^2$ where $\mathfrak m$ is the ideal of germs of functions on $M$ vanishing at $p$, and that its dimension is that of $M$.
Define tangent vectors of $M$ at $p$ to be $1$-jets $(\mathbb R,0)\to (M,p)$. These do not obviously form a vector space until you note that there is a canonical bijection between them and the linear functionals on the cotangent space (given by composing $\mathbb R\to M\to\mathbb R$).