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