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For the Levi-Civita connection, the difference of two connections is a tensor. Varying the coordinate expression for the Ricci tensor then gives the displayed covariant identity. It is the starting point for the metric variation of scalar curvature.

Variation of the inverse metric relation $g^{ac}{g}_{cb}={\delta }^a{}_b$ gives $\delta g^{ab}=-h^{ab}$. Hence the metric variation of scalar curvature isPut $h=g^{ab}{h}_{ab}$. The connection variation gives the contractionsUsing metric compatibility and the Palatini identity,Renaming dummy indices givesNo interchange of covariant derivatives on a tensor is needed in this derivation, so no hidden curvature-commutator term is discarded.

Put $h_{ab}=\delta g_{ab}$, $h=g^{ab}{h}_{ab}$, and $h^{ab}=g^{ac}{g}^{bd}{h}_{cd}$. Throughout this part use the Riemann curvature tensor convention printed in the paper. Varying $g^{ac}{g}_{cb}={\delta }^a{}_b$ gives the inverse-metric variation. The determinant identity $\delta \log |\det g|=g^{ab}{h}_{ab}$ gives the volume form variation. Together these areIn Lorentzian coordinates the latter reads $\delta \sqrt{-g}=\frac{1}{2}\sqrt{-g}h$.

For the connection, vary metric compatibility ${\nabla }_a{g}_{bc}=0$:Add the equations with derivatives $a,b$, subtract that with derivative $c$, and use symmetry of the lower indices of the Levi-Civita connection. This givesThe difference of two connections is a tensor, so this formula is covariant.

Varying the coordinate curvature formula yields the Palatini identityThe contractions of the connection variation areFinally, $\delta R=(\delta g^{ab})R_{ab}+g^{ab}\delta R_{ab}$ gives the metric variation of scalar curvature:The double divergence may equivalently be written ${\nabla }_a{\nabla }_b{h}^{ab}$: relabeling the contracted dummy indices and using symmetry of $h^{ab}$ gives the same expression. The derivative terms are a covariant divergence, useful when varying a curvature-dependent action.

For the torsion-free Levi-Civita connection, cyclically summing the displayed coordinate expression and using ${\Gamma }^a{}_{bc}={\Gamma }^a{}_{cb}$ gives the algebraic first Bianchi identityApply the Jacobi identity to three covariant-derivative commutators, or differentiate the coordinate formula in normal coordinates. The third-derivative terms and the derivatives of quadratic connection terms cancel cyclically, giving the differential second Bianchi identityContracting the first and third curvature indices and then contracting once more yieldsor the contracted Bianchi identity

For the metric variation $h_{ab}=\delta g_{ab}$,while the two double-divergence terms in the supplied metric variation of scalar curvature become a boundary term after integration by parts for tensor fields. The Einstein-Hilbert action therefore contributes $G_{ab}+\Lambda g_{ab}$. Varying the Proca action with respect to the metric gives the Proca stress-energy tensor, and the full Einstein-Proca theory equation is

Since $\delta F_{ab}=2{\nabla }_{[a}\delta A_{b]}$, variation with respect to $A_b$ and one integration by parts give the covariant Proca equationTaking its covariant divergence givesbecause the resulting contractions pair the symmetric Ricci tensor with the antisymmetric electromagnetic field tensor. Since $m\ne 0$, the Lorenz constraint in Proca theory follows:Moreover, $F=dA$ and $d^2=0$, so the Electromagnetic Bianchi identity is

Finally, use that identity to differentiate the matter tensor. The result groups naturally asBoth terms vanish by the Proca equation and its Lorenz constraint in Proca theory. Thus ${\nabla }^a{T}_{ab}=0$, exactly as required by the contracted Bianchi identity applied to the Einstein field equations. The vector equation is therefore consistent with the gravitational equation.

Varying the coordinate expression for the curvature and replacing partial derivatives by covariant ones givesThereforewhereThis is the metric variation of scalar curvature; its divergence contributes only a boundary term to the variation of the Einstein-Hilbert action.

Varying the Ricci tensor and contracting givesSubstitution of part (i), followed by metric compatibility, reduces the divergence toThus the metric variation of scalar curvature isand consequently