Verify Summation in Christoffel Symbols Formula

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SUMMARY

The discussion confirms that in the formula for Christoffel symbols, specifically \(\Gamma_{mij} = \frac{1}{2} g_{mk} \left( \frac{\partial g_{ki}}{\partial x_j} + \frac{\partial g_{jk}}{\partial x_i} - \frac{\partial g_{ij}}{\partial x_k} \right)\), summation over the index \(k\) is indeed required. This is validated by the application of the Einstein summation convention, which dictates that indices appearing in both the upper and lower positions must be summed. The conversation also highlights the importance of correctly identifying indices to determine summation necessity, emphasizing that the indices on the left side must match those on the right side.

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  • Understanding of Christoffel symbols and their role in differential geometry
  • Familiarity with the Einstein summation convention
  • Knowledge of metric tensors and their properties
  • Basic calculus, particularly partial derivatives
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  • Study the derivation of Christoffel symbols in various coordinate systems
  • Explore the implications of the Einstein summation convention in tensor calculus
  • Learn about metric tensor properties in Riemannian geometry
  • Investigate applications of Christoffel symbols in general relativity
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Mathematicians, physicists, and students studying differential geometry or general relativity, particularly those interested in the application of Christoffel symbols in various coordinate systems.

space-time
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In the formula for Christoffel symbols:

[itex]\Gamma[/itex]mij= [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex]gmk[(∂gki/∂xj) + (∂gjk/∂xi) - (∂gij/∂xk)

you do sum over k right?

I know this probably seems like a rather "noob-like" question and I know about Einstein summation convention. I am just asking because with previous Christoffel symbols I derived, they were in simple coordinate systems such as spherical and cylindrical, so I was just able to set k = m due to the fact that the metric tensors only had non-zero diagonal components.
 
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Yes, you sum over k.
That's because you raised the m index in this way, and raising an index work like that.
Further, once the Einstein convention is used, it is fully used.
You also forgot a closing square bracket.
 
A quick way to figure out whether something should be summed over is to look at the indices that appear on the left and the right hand sides. On the left there is m,i,j, on the right there is m,k,i,j so the k's must have been summed over or else they would appear on the left.
 

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