$ (1)$解:设$AD=x\ \mathrm {cm},$则$BD=AB-AD=(12-x)\ \mathrm {cm}$
∵$\frac {AD}{BD}=\frac {AE}{EC}$
∴$\frac {x}{12-x}=\frac {6}{4}$
∴$x= 7.2$
∴$AD=7.2\ \mathrm {cm}$
$(2)$证明:∵$\frac {AD}{BD}=\frac {AE}{EC}$
∴$\frac {AD+BD}{BD}=\frac {AE+EC}{EC}$
∴$\frac {AB}{BD}=\frac {AC}{EC}$
∴$\frac {BD}{AB}=\frac {EC}{AC}$