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It may seem like a dumb question but I'm trying to solve a problem involving coordinate transformations on the Christoffel symbol and to solve it they do the product rule $$\partial_\alpha g_{\beta ' \gamma '} = \frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\alpha}} \left(\frac{\partial x^{\gamma}}{\partial x^{\gamma '}} \frac{\partial x^{\beta}}{\partial x^{\beta '}} \right)g_{\beta \gamma} + \frac{\partial x^{\gamma}}{\partial x^{\gamma '}} \frac{\partial x^{\beta}}{\partial x^{\beta '}} \frac{\partial x^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\alpha }} \partial_{\nu} g_{\beta \gamma}.$$

I understand that we need to take the product rule, but I don't understand why the second term is $\frac{\partial x^{\gamma}}{\partial x^{\gamma '}} \frac{\partial x^{\beta}}{\partial x^{\beta '}} \frac{\partial x^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\alpha }} \partial_{\nu} g_{\beta \gamma}$ and not $\frac{\partial x^{\gamma}}{\partial x^{\gamma '}} \frac{\partial x^{\beta}}{\partial x^{\beta '}} \frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\alpha }} g_{\beta \gamma}$. Where does the $\frac{\partial x^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\alpha }}$ come from?

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  • $\begingroup$ $\frac{\partial x^\nu}{\partial x^\alpha}=\delta^\nu_\alpha$ $\endgroup$
    – go_science
    Commented Mar 13, 2023 at 10:07

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The two expressions are actually the same. Notice that $$\frac{\partial x^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\alpha }} \partial_{\nu} = \frac{\partial x^{\nu}}{\partial x^{\alpha }} \frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\nu}} = \frac{\partial}{\partial x^{\alpha}}.$$

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