<p>A single vector equation like <span class="math-container">$\vec{F} = m \frac{d^2 \vec{r}}{dt^2}$</span> is actually three equations one for each of the <span class="math-container">$x,y,z$</span> components of the 3-vector <span class="math-container">$\vec{r}$</span>.</p>
<p>In the spacetime of general relativity there are four directions to worry about, e.g., <span class="math-container">$t,x,y,z$</span>.  A vector is a rank-1 tensor and has four components.  So a vector equation in GR would really be four equations.  In common notation the components of the spacetime position 4-vector are <span class="math-container">$x^\mu$</span>, where <span class="math-container">$\mu$</span> is an index designating which of the four components you are talking about.</p>
<p>In general relativity the gravitational field is represented by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_tensor_(general_relativity)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">metric tensor</a>, which is a rank-2 tensor.  In component notation it is written <span class="math-container">$g_{\mu\nu}$</span>, where each index, <span class="math-container">$\mu$</span> and <span class="math-container">$\nu$</span>, can take one of four values.  This means it has 16 components.  An equation, like the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_field_equations" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Einstein field equation</a>, is actually 16 equations, one for each component of the metric.</p>
<p>The metric is a symmetric tensor, meaning <span class="math-container">$g_{\mu\nu}=g_{\nu\mu}$</span>.  This means some of the 16 equations are duplicates.  Einstein's field equations are <strong>10 independent equations</strong> that fully determine all 16 components of <span class="math-container">$g_{\mu\nu}$</span>.</p>
<p>In general a rank-<span class="math-container">$N$</span> tensor has <span class="math-container">$d^N$</span> components, where <span class="math-container">$d$</span> is the dimensionality of the space, so <span class="math-container">$4$</span> for spacetime.</p>
<p>The Riemann curvature tensor is a rank-4 tensor, <span class="math-container">$R_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$</span>, with <span class="math-container">$4^4 = 256$</span> components.  Like the metric tensor, it has some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riemann_curvature_tensor#Symmetries_and_identities" rel="nofollow noreferrer">internal symmetries (and anti-symmetries)</a> so not all components are independent.  It turns out there are only 20 independent components of the Riemann curvature tensor.</p>

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2022-04-24T21:04:14.417Z
2022-04-25T11:35:25.957Z
2022-04-25T11:35:25.957Z
Paul T.
<p>One site I came across says Einstein's 10 Field Equations use 20 variables, while another said 40.</p>
<p>There are four variables in spacetime - three for space and one for time, right?</p>
<p>But there are two index symbols for each tensor, usually denoted by the Greek letters mu and nu.  I don't know if the rank of a tensor is related to the number of variables in relativity.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-18T01:39:57.303Z
No, the rank of a tensor is the number of indices. The indices are then summed over all four variables. The metric tensor is a rank two tensor based on a four-variable spacetime, hence it can be represented by a 4x4 matrix. The full Riemann-tensor is a rank 4 tensor (4^4=64 entries), Christoffel symbols are rank 3 etc. The field equations are therefore 16 equations for (naively) 64 variables. One then needs symmetries and other tools to reduce and solve this system of equations.
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
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2021-12-18T06:31:25.790Z
@AtmosphericPrisonEscape You seem to be answering in a comment, something strongly discouraged on SE generally.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
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2021-12-18T11:43:12.267Z
@StephenG Thanks for morally highgrounding on the internet, I just wasn't sure about the numbers I quoted, as my GR is quite a while ago. So my rationale was to wait for a "Nah, but.." before answering.
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-18T14:40:56.300Z
@AtmosphericPrisonEscape It's not "moral highgrounding", it's simply drawing it to your attention.  Given that votes up on answers earn more reputation than comments  you're really being reminded that you can gain more reputation and give the community an opportunity to vote on your response.  Comments on SE can (and are) be deleted (outside of human control as I understand it) and  so an answer in comments should not be considered persistent.  That's my understanding of how it works.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
<gravity><cosmology><general-relativity><special-relativity><theories>
Do Einstein's ten field equations use 20 or 40 variables? (2 or 4 for each tensor equation?)
Kurt Hikes
# Do Einstein's ten field equations use 20 or 40 variables? (2 or 4 for each tensor equation?)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-12-18)

One site I came across says Einstein's 10 Field Equations use 20 variables, while another said 40.

There are four variables in spacetime - three for space and one for time, right?

But there are two index symbols for each tensor, usually denoted by the Greek letters mu and nu. I don't know if the rank of a tensor is related to the number of variables in relativity.

**Tags:** gravity, cosmology, general-relativity, special-relativity, theories

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: No, the rank of a tensor is the number of indices. The indices are then summed over all four variables. The metric tensor is a rank two tensor based on a four-variable spacetime, hence it can be represented by a 4x4 matrix. The full Riemann-tensor is a rank 4 tensor (4^4=64 entries), Christoffel symbols are rank 3 etc. The field equations are therefore 16 equations for (naively) 64 variables. One then needs symmetries and other tools to reduce and solve this system of equations.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 You seem to be answering in a comment, something strongly discouraged on SE generally.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 Thanks for morally highgrounding on the internet, I just wasn't sure about the numbers I quoted, as my GR is quite a while ago. So my rationale was to wait for a "Nah, but.." before answering.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 It's not "moral highgrounding", it's simply drawing it to your attention.  Given that votes up on answers earn more reputation than comments  you're really being reminded that you can gain more reputation and give the community an opportunity to vote on your response.  Comments on SE can (and are) be deleted (outside of human control as I understand it) and  so an answer in comments should not be considered persistent.  That's my understanding of how it works.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-04-24. Score: 5

A single vector equation like $\vec{F} = m \frac{d^2 \vec{r}}{dt^2}$ is actually three equations one for each of the $x,y,z$ components of the 3-vector $\vec{r}$.

In the spacetime of general relativity there are four directions to worry about, e.g., $t,x,y,z$. A vector is a rank-1 tensor and has four components. So a vector equation in GR would really be four equations. In common notation the components of the spacetime position 4-vector are $x^\mu$, where $\mu$ is an index designating which of the four components you are talking about.

In general relativity the gravitational field is represented by the [metric tensor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_tensor_(general_relativity)), which is a rank-2 tensor. In component notation it is written $g\_{\mu\nu}$, where each index, $\mu$ and $\nu$, can take one of four values. This means it has 16 components. An equation, like the [Einstein field equation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_field_equations), is actually 16 equations, one for each component of the metric.

The metric is a symmetric tensor, meaning $g\_{\mu\nu}=g\_{\nu\mu}$. This means some of the 16 equations are duplicates. Einstein's field equations are **10 independent equations** that fully determine all 16 components of $g\_{\mu\nu}$.

In general a rank-$N$ tensor has $d^N$ components, where $d$ is the dimensionality of the space, so $4$ for spacetime.

The Riemann curvature tensor is a rank-4 tensor, $R\_{\alpha\beta\mu\nu}$, with $4^4 = 256$ components. Like the metric tensor, it has some [internal symmetries (and anti-symmetries)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riemann_curvature_tensor#Symmetries_and_identities) so not all components are independent. It turns out there are only 20 independent components of the Riemann curvature tensor.


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