How to prove the bilinearity of a given metric using tensorial product addition?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the bilinearity of the metric defined by the first fundamental form ##ds^2=cos^2(v)du^2+dv^2##. Participants explore the definitions and properties of metrics, particularly in the context of tensorial products and bilinear forms.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how to define the function that needs to be proven bilinear, suggesting that a metric must be involved.
  • Another participant asserts that a metric is bilinear by definition and expresses confusion over the need for proof in this case.
  • A participant describes their approach to the problem, referencing their professor's method involving tensorial products and general vectors.
  • There is mention of an unusual notation used by the professor, which involves expressing the metric in terms of components and variables.
  • One participant indicates that understanding the reasoning behind the bilinearity proof may require knowledge from a master's course.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of proving bilinearity for the given metric. While some assert that it is inherently bilinear, others seek clarification on the definitions and interpretations involved.

Contextual Notes

There are references to specific notations and methods that may not be universally understood, indicating potential limitations in the discussion's clarity. The discussion also reflects varying levels of familiarity with the concepts involved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students studying differential geometry or those interested in the properties of metrics and tensorial products.

Simone Furcas
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How could I proof this ##ds^2=cos^2(v)du^2+dv^2## is bilinear?
 
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I don't even know what that is unless there's a metric involved. How do you define the the function that you want to prove is bilinear?

If this is a problem from a book or some kind of homework, we will need the full problem statement.

If it's just something you encountered in a book, then please tell us the name of the book, and where in the book you found it.
 
I translate it, it's in Italian. I've just solved it by myself.
This is first fundamental form##ds^2=cos^2(v)du^2+dv^2## v∈(-##\pi##/2,##\pi##/2). Check it is bilinear, symmetric and positive.
 
OK, if you solved it, then maybe you don't want to talk about it, but I'm curious how you made sense of the problem. A metric is bilinear by definition, and so is the first fundamental form. (I wasn't familiar with that term, but I just looked it up). So I don't see how to extract a function from your notation that needs to be proved to be bilinear.

If we're dealing with a metric, what you wrote can can be interpreted as a sloppy way of writing ##g=g_{ij}dx^i \otimes dx^j##. This is a formula that holds because of the bilinearity of the metric: For all u,v, we have
$$g(u,v)=g(u^i e_i, v^je_j)=u^i v^j g(e_i,e_j) =u^i v^j g_{ij} =g_{ij} dx^i(u) dx^j(v) =g_{ij} dx^i\otimes dx^j (u,v).$$ This implies that ##g=g_{ij}dx^i\otimes dx^j.## How am I supposed to interpret what you wrote if not as ##g_{uu}=\cos v## and so on? I'm not sure that this interpretation makes sense if we don't already know that g is a metric, or at least that it's a bilinear form.
 
I'll try answering by smartphone. It is an exercise to show the student remember that first fundamental form is a tensorial product addition. I red in my note my professor 's idea, he showed as you do the tensorial product, furthermore he takes 2 general vector of the space and with an unusual notation he wrote (du^2+dv^2)(X,Y) with X,Y variables, after that du^2(X,Y)+dv^2(X,Y) using tensorial,product it become du(X)du(Y)+dv(X)dv(Y) and after he wrote Xand y as sum of components xi and ei, ei is the I element of the base.. A friend of mine told me that the reason would be clear in a master's course of the same professor. I used this notation and I took. (x+Y,Z) as variables, and because it I obviously bilinear, after long and boring count finished. By phone I hard to answer, I hope being clear.
 

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