Is D'Inverno's Equation (11.38) Correctly Integrated?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration method used in D'Inverno's Equation (11.38) from "Introducing Einstein's Relativity." Participants analyze whether the integration is correctly applied and explore the implications of the mathematical steps involved. The scope includes technical reasoning and mathematical clarification.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the validity of integrating only part of the equation, noting that two terms remain unintegrated in the transition from Equation (11.38) to (11.39).
  • Another participant suggests that D'Inverno is not using integration by parts but rather the differentiation of a product, leading to a different interpretation of the terms involved.
  • A later reply agrees with the previous analysis, asserting that D'Inverno's approach resembles the Leibniz rule and involves rearranging terms to arrive at Equation (11.39).
  • Another participant indicates that the process resembles regular integration by parts but suggests that one term must be moved to the other side of the equation to align with traditional integration by parts methodology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the integration method used in D'Inverno's work. There is no consensus on whether the integration is correctly applied, as some argue it is a product differentiation while others maintain it follows integration by parts principles.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential confusion regarding the application of integration techniques and the manipulation of terms, with some expressing uncertainty about the correct interpretation of the mathematical steps involved.

TerryW
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The attached file contains part of page 151 from D'Inverno's Introducing Einstein's Relativity. Beneath the shaded equation (11.38) he continues with 'Integrating the first two terms in (11.37) by parts, we get...' ...equation (11.39). This doesn't look right to me because the original equation has one term on the left hand side and three terms on the right hand side but in the resultant equation, two of the terms (the LG on the LHS and the LG barred on the RHS) have not been integrated. How can you get away with integrating only part of an equation??
 

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I've had another look at this and worked out what is going on.
Basically, integration by parts is not being used at all. He is using the differentiation of a product.
(gab[tex]\Gamma[/tex]abc),c gives two terms and (gab[tex]\Gamma[/tex]cbc),a gives another two terms. A bit of index manipulation on two of the six terms in the two equations produces Qa,a and a bit more manipulation produces the LG and the L[tex]\bar{}[/tex]G leaving two terms -gab,c[tex]\Gamma[/tex]cab + gab,b [tex]\Gamma[/tex]cac. These can then be organised into (11.39) as given.

Sorry about the Latex rendition. A couple of terms don't appear as they should but I can't see where the Latex is wrong!
 
TerryW said:
I've had another look at this and worked out what is going on.
Basically, integration by parts is not being used at all. He is using the differentiation of a product.
(gab[tex]\Gamma[/tex]abc),c gives two terms and (gab[tex]\Gamma[/tex]cbc),a gives another two terms. A bit of index manipulation on two of the six terms in the two equations produces Qa,a and a bit more manipulation produces the LG and the L[tex]\bar{}[/tex]G leaving two terms -gab,c[tex]\Gamma[/tex]cab + gab,b [tex]\Gamma[/tex]cac. These can then be organised into (11.39) as given.

Sorry about the Latex rendition. A couple of terms don't appear as they should but I can't see where the Latex is wrong!

You got it just right! I think D'inverno thought of "integration by parts" simply as separating terms into two parts. Indeed, he applies the Leibniz rule to the two first terms and then rearrange terms in such a way that (11.39) gets produced!

AB
 
I worked from d'Inverno and came across the same thing. I think if you revisit the regular integration by parts you will see that it is just the dervitative of a product but done in reverse.
 
Well, not quite! You have to take one term over to the other side of the equation to get the mantra "First times the integral of the second minus the integral of the differential of the first times the integral of the second" - I still remember that after 45 years!
 

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