Point-connected rigid bodies in a topological tree

The purpose of the present paper is to explore the applicability of several methods of analytical mechanics to the modern problem of formulating generic equations of motion of a point-connected set of rigid bodies in a topological tree, in order to compare the results of the previously published Hooker-Margulies/Hooker equations. The unexpected result of the inquiry is the discovery that with the substitution of a key kinematical identity from the Hooker and Margulies vector-dyadic equations for the multiple-rigid-body tree, identical equations emerge from each of four quite different derivation procedures.