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Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 20:29:18 +1100Depending on what you mean by "axis" the answer might be "yes."
From: Brian McInnes <bmcinnes@PNC.COM.AU>
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 4:02 AM
From: Phil Parker <PPARKER@TWSUVM.UC.TWSU.EDU>
In mathematics we distinguish between scalar components and vectormentioned vector
components for precisely this reason. We would say Bob
components, and you've described scalar components.sign attached to a
Also in mathematics, vectors can have signs, but the
vector is conceptually different from the sign attached toa number. Using
the same minus symbol for both is a bad idea from a purelyconceptual view,
but it's very human.
Phil,
Let's see if I understand you.
(1) By "vector components" do you you mean scalar components
of a vector multiplied by a unit vector along the
appropriate axis?
(2) Why do you want (or need) signs for vectors?Ugh. From a pure, abstract, mathematical viewpoint, we *define*
In replying to Bob SciamandaActually it was to Dewey Dykstra.
you say "It is important toYou're right: they aren't. BUT ... I think almost everyone uses
keep the distinction between numbers as numbers (scalars)
and numbers as 1-dimensional vectors. This post thoroughly
confuses the two senses." What I find confusing is the idea
that numbers, which are pure magnitude (surely) can be
vectors (1-dimensional or otherwise)!