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= Vector Multiplication = = Vector Operations =

'''Vector operations''' can be expressed numerically or geometrically.
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== Addition ==

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== Scalar Multiplication ==

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The '''dot product''' of two vectors gives a single scalar value. Two vectors of equal dimensions can be multiplied as a '''dot product'''. The notation is ''a ⋅ b''.

It is also known as a '''scalar product''' because the multiplication yields a single scalar.
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julia> A = [2,3,4]
3-element Vector{Int64}:
 2
 3
 4

julia> B = [5,6,7]
3-element Vector{Int64}:
 5
 6
 7
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julia> AB julia> [2,3,4][5,6,7]
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=== Properties ===

Dot product multiplication is commutative.

The dot product is 0 only when ''a'' and ''b'' are [[LinearAlgebra/Orthogonality|orthogonal]].

The dot product effectively measures how ''similar'' the vectors are.



=== Usage ===

The dot product is also known as the '''projection product'''. The dot product of ''a'' and ''b'' is equivalent to multiplying the distance of ''a'' by the distance of the [[LinearAlgebra/Projections#Vectors|projection]] of ''b'' into ''C(a)'', the column space of ''a''. (Because a vector is clearly of [[LinearAlgebra/Rank|rank]] 1, this space is in ''R^1^'' and forms a line.) Trigonometrically, this is ''||a|| ||b|| cos(θ)''.

This provides a geometric intuition for why the dot product is 0 when ''a'' and ''b'' are orthogonal: there is no possible projection, and necessarily multiplying by 0 results in 0.

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== Inner Product ==

The '''inner product''' is a generalization of the dot product. Specifically, the dot product is the inner product in Euclidean space. The notation is ''⟨a, b⟩''.

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== Cross Product ==

Two vectors of 3-dimensional vectors can be multiplied as a '''cross product'''. The notation is ''a × b''.



=== Properties ===

Cross product multiplication is '''anti-commutative''': ''a × b = -b × a''.

The cross product effectively measures how ''dissimilar'' the vectors are.



=== Usage ===

The cross product is a vector that is orthogonal to both ''a'' and ''b''.


Vector Operations

Vector operations can be expressed numerically or geometrically.


Addition


Scalar Multiplication


Dot Product

Two vectors of equal dimensions can be multiplied as a dot product. The notation is a ⋅ b.

It is also known as a scalar product because the multiplication yields a single scalar.

Generally, given two vectors (a and b) with n dimensions, the dot product is computed as:

dot1.svg

Concretely, if a and b have three dimensions (labeled x, y, and z), the dot product can be computed as:

dot2.svg

julia> using LinearAlgebra

julia> # type '\cdot' and tab-complete into '⋅'
julia> [2,3,4] ⋅ [5,6,7] 
56

Properties

Dot product multiplication is commutative.

The dot product is 0 only when a and b are orthogonal.

The dot product effectively measures how similar the vectors are.

Usage

The dot product is also known as the projection product. The dot product of a and b is equivalent to multiplying the distance of a by the distance of the projection of b into C(a), the column space of a. (Because a vector is clearly of rank 1, this space is in R1 and forms a line.) Trigonometrically, this is ||a|| ||b|| cos(θ).

This provides a geometric intuition for why the dot product is 0 when a and b are orthogonal: there is no possible projection, and necessarily multiplying by 0 results in 0.


Inner Product

The inner product is a generalization of the dot product. Specifically, the dot product is the inner product in Euclidean space. The notation is ⟨a, b⟩.


Cross Product

Two vectors of 3-dimensional vectors can be multiplied as a cross product. The notation is a × b.

Properties

Cross product multiplication is anti-commutative: a × b = -b × a.

The cross product effectively measures how dissimilar the vectors are.

Usage

The cross product is a vector that is orthogonal to both a and b.


CategoryRicottone

Calculus/VectorOperations (last edited 2026-02-02 17:05:38 by DominicRicottone)