Exercise [13.

47]

First, gab is symmetric due to the following reasoning:

1. gab is obviously symmetric in a Cartesian coordinate system, as can be seen from the
definition in Chapter 13.8, 3rd equation.

2. In an arbitrary coordinate system, we have:

g~ab = s j a s kb g jk [transformation rule]

= s ja s kb g kj [symmetry of gjk]

= s kb s j a g kj

= g~ba [transformation rule]

Hence gab is symmetric in any coordinate system.

For the following proof, the fourth formula of Chapter 13.8 will be used:

g ab g bc = δ ac (1)

Starting with the symmetry of gab, we get:

g ab = g ba

⇒ g ad ( g ab ) g bc = g ad ( g ba ) g bc

δ ac δ bd [because of (1)]

⇒ g cd = g dc

Starting with the symmetry of gab, we get:

g ab = g ba

⇒ g ad ( g ab ) g bc = g ad ( g ba ) g bc

δ ca δ db [because of (1)]

⇒ g cd = g dc

Juergen Beckmann