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Put $\kappa =8\pi G/c^4$ and $T=T_{\nu }{}^{\nu }$. The contracted Bianchi identity and metric compatibility giveTaking the trace of the field equation in four dimensions gives $(1-4\alpha )R=-\kappa T$. For $\alpha \ne 1/4$, eliminate $R$:Ordinary covariantly coupled matter obeys stress-energy conservation, ${\nabla }_{\nu }{T}_{\mu }{}^{\nu }=0$. Its trace need not be constant, so the trace coefficient fixed by stress-energy conservation isThis restores the Einstein tensor and is the only coefficient compatible with arbitrary conventional matter without adding a new constraint or changing the matter conservation law. Other coefficients can work for specially restricted sources with constant trace, but do not give the same universal matter coupling.

The excluded case $\alpha =1/4$ must be treated before dividing: its trace equation requires $T=0$. If stress-energy is also conserved, its divergence equation requires ${\partial }_{\mu }R=0$. It can describe a restricted traceless-source sector with constant scalar curvature, not general matter such as ordinary dust. In particular it is not the general trace-free Einstein equation with source $T_{\mu \nu }-g_{\mu \nu }T/4$, which is a different equation.

If $S$ is a holomorphic subbundle of a Hermitian vector bundle $E$, its induced Chern connection is $D_S={\pi }_S{D}_E$ on sections of $S$. Orthogonal projection preserves metric compatibility, and holomorphicity of $S$ preserves the required $(0,1)$ operator. Uniqueness of the Chern connection therefore identifies the projected connection.

Relativistic dust is a continuum of noninteracting massive particles with one local four-velocity $u^{\mu }$ and negligible pressure. With signature $(+---)$, $u^{\mu }{u}_{\mu }=c^2$ and rest mass density $\rho$, its stress-energy tensor has the displayed form. Contracting stress-energy conservation with $u_{\nu }$ and using metric compatibility gives $c^2{\nabla }_{\mu }(\rho u^{\mu })=0$. Substituting back yields $u^{\mu }{\nabla }_{\mu }{u}^{\nu }=0$ wherever $\rho >0$: each particle follows a geodesic. The cosmological pressureless matter model is a homogeneous application.

For a minimally coupled scalar field with a Levi-Civita connection, metric compatibility and the symmetric Hessian of a scalar field give the displayed off-shell identity. It is a special case of the diffeomorphism Noether identity for a scalar field, and gives stress-energy conservation when the scalar equation is satisfied. No gravitational field equation is needed.

A spacelike geodesic has positive tangent norm in signature $(-+++)$ and satisfies the geodesic equation with an affine parameter. Metric compatibility preserves that norm along the curve. In Minkowski spacetime these are straight lines whose spatial tangent is larger in magnitude than the time component; their two ends approach spacelike infinity in a conformal completion.

With signature $+---$ and $n^{\mu }{n}_{\mu }=1$, the spatial projection tensor is $P^{\mu }{}_{\nu }={\delta }^{\mu }{}_{\nu }-n^{\mu }{n}_{\nu }$. Projecting the spacetime metric tensor gives $q_{\mu \nu }=g_{\mu \nu }-n_{\mu }{n}_{\nu }$, which is negative definite on spatial vectors. The positive spatial induced metric is $h_{\mu \nu }=-q_{\mu \nu }$. A plus sign in $g_{\mu \nu }+n_{\mu }{n}_{\nu }$ belongs to a different normal/signature convention and is not transverse in this one. Fully projected covariant derivatives of either spatial metric vanish by metric compatibility.

The square is a rank-two Killing tensor. It is symmetric because it pairs the covectors $Y_{a\cdot }$ and $Y_{b\cdot }$ using the metric. Along every affinely parametrized geodesic, its contraction $K(v,v)$ is the squared norm of the carried by parallel transport covector $Y(v,\cdot )$. Metric compatibility makes that norm constant, proving the Killing tensor equation. On a Riemannian manifold this tensor is positive semidefinite.

The tetrad postulate expresses compatibility of the spacetime and Lorentz-frame connections on a vierbein. For the inverse coframe $e_{\nu }{}^b$, solving gives ${\omega }_a{}^{\mu }{}_{\nu }=e_{\nu }{}^b({\Gamma }^c{}_{ab}{e}^{\mu }{}_c-{\partial }_a{e}^{\mu }{}_b)$. Metric compatibility makes the lowered connection antisymmetric in its Lorentz indices. Lifting this connection through the Spinor representation of the Lorentz group defines the spinor covariant derivative.

For the threading convention $d{x}^i-N^{i}dt$ and $K_{ij}=-({\dot{\gamma }}_{ij}+D_i{N}_j+D_j{N}_i)/(2N)$, contract with ${\gamma }^{ij}$. Metric compatibility gives ${\gamma }^{ij}{D}_i{N}_j=D_i{N}^i$, and the Jacobi determinant derivative formula gives ${\gamma }^{ij}{\dot{\gamma }}_{ij}={\partial }_t\log \det \gamma$. With zero shift, $-K/3=(3N{)}^{-1}{\partial }_t\log \sqrt{\gamma }$ is the local volume Hubble parameter. Reversing the shift convention reverses both the normal's spatial component and the shift terms; the two conventions must not be mixed.

For a family of Levi-Civita connections, the difference of affine connections is a tensor. Dividing by the family parameter and taking the limit shows that its variation is tensorial. Vary the metric compatibility equation and retain the symmetry of the two lower indices. Adding the two cyclic identities and subtracting the third gives the displayed result. In a normal coordinate frame it is the direct derivative of the Christoffel formula; its tensorial form then holds in every frame.