Maple Getting wrong answer using Maple (Physics package)

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The discussion centers on a user's frustration with Maple's physics package while attempting to compute the covariant derivative of an antisymmetric tensor in an FLRW spacetime. The user has correctly derived that the covariant derivative should equal zero but encounters discrepancies when using Maple, which produces different results based on the method of input. Concerns are raised about the reliability of the software for complex calculations, prompting the user to seek guidance on whether the issue lies with their approach or the software itself. Suggestions include verifying the order of operations and checking for known bugs or issues with Maple. The user expresses a desire to avoid manual calculations and hopes for a resolution to ensure the software's accuracy.
graupner1000
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Hi all,

I'm hoping somebody can save me from this impending frustration induced aneurysm. The problem lies with Maple's physics package and is this:

I am in an FLRW spacetime with metric

##ds^{2}=dt^{2}−a(t)^{2}(\frac{dr^{2}}{1−kr^{2}}+r^{2}d\theta^{2}+r^{2}sin^{2}(\theta)d\phi^{2})##

and a(t) is the scale factor. Now, I also have an antisymmetric, rank two tensor ##W## with components

##W^{23}=−W^{32}=\frac{1}{r^{2}a(t)^{2}sin(\theta)}##

and all others zero. So far, so straight forward. OK, next I want to take the covariant derivative of ω; rather easy with the Christoffel symbols given here http://universeinproblems.com/index...oblem_20:_Christoffel_symbols_for_FLRW_metric, and get

##\nabla_{\alpha} W^{\mu\nu} = 0##

Now, what I am doing involves many subsidiary calculations so I am doing it in Maple using the Physics package. I am confident in the answer above and have had somebody check it for me (by hand). The problem is, when telling maple to evaluate the above covariant derivative, it gives a different answer. Not only that, but seems, that giving it the same problem in three different ways results in different answers (neither of which is the one it should be). In one instance, it is the D_() command, in the second I use the "Define" command and D_() and in the other I am expanding the covariant derivative in terms of Christoffel symbols and using "Define" to input it as

d_[alpha](W[~mu,~nu]) + Christoffel[~mu,alpha,beta] W[~mu,~nu]+ Christoffel[~nu,alpha,beta] W[~mu,~nu]

The issue is less with this specific calculation, but more with whether or not I can rely on the package to give me the right answer (I'd rather not have to do it all by hand). So I basically wanted to ask where am I going wrong? Is it me or the software?

I've also attached screesshots of a minimal example . Any help would be very much appreciated. Meanwhile, I'm going to go and scream at a wall :)
ProblemExample1.png
ProblemExample1.png
 

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Have you checked with MAPLE to see if anyone else has a similar problem? All software systems encounter bugs and manufacturers will provide either a workaround or state its a known issue.

One area that always messes calculations up is precedence of operation. You could try placing parentheses around factors and terms to insure they are computed in the right order:

A + B * C^2 vs (A + (B * (C^2) ) ) where you can clearly see that C^2 is computed first then B * C^2 and finally A + B * C^2
 
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