Shape operator in a normal direction ($⟨A_{\xi }X,Y⟩=⟨II(X,Y),\xi ⟩$)

For a normal vector $\xi$, this identity defines the corresponding shape operator using the vector-valued second fundamental form. It is self-adjoint because of the symmetry of the second fundamental form. Differentiating $⟨\xi ,Y⟩=0$ shows that $A_{\xi }X=-(D_X\xi {)}^{\top }$. In higher codimension there is a different operator for each normal direction.

The Weingarten formula decomposes the ambient derivative of a normal field into a tangential shape operator term and the normal connection. The minus sign corresponds to $⟨A_{\xi }X,Y⟩=⟨II(X,Y),\xi ⟩$. For the outward unit normal of a unit sphere, $A_{\xi }=-I$ with this convention.