Type talk:Vector

Maybe magnitude and direction could be attributes? Fuelbottle 15:18, 15 November 2005 (CET)

Depends on how many dimensions the vector should have. If you use only 2D or 3D Vectors we can hardcode it. (Note: Scalar Product is for 3D Vectors only)

But we would need a general mathematical Syntax for higher-order Vectors like: has Vector:={1,2,3,4,5} has Vector:=( transpose::{1,2,3,4,5} ) has Vector:={ {1},{2},{3},{4},{5} } While the first is a horizontal Vector, the later example is a vertical Vector. In a similar way we could also define Matrices: has Matrix:={  {1,2,3,4,5},   {6,7,8,9,0},   {5,4,3,2,1} } Using Polar-Coordinates would be a harder Task to implement. But I would say we don't need it. A mathematical experienced User needing Vectors and Matrices can use a extern mathematical Program or a pocket calculator to do the transformation. MovGP0 16:32, 15 November 2005 (CET)

Alternatively you need to use another Datatype and use a mathematical Function to convert it: has Vector:=vectorFromPolar(123, 45°) MovGP0 16:34, 15 November 2005 (CET)

Suggestion for output of vector attribute
Vector:={1,2,3,4,5}

This attribute should give the same output as:
 * $${a} = \begin{bmatrix}

1\\ 2\\ 3\\ 4\\ 5\\ \end{bmatrix} $$ Vector:=( transpose::{1,2,3,4,5} ) Vector:={ {1},{2},{3},{4},{5} } This attribute should give the same output as:
 * $$ {a} = \begin{pmatrix}

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 \\ \end{pmatrix} $$ Fuelbottle 19:24, 15 November 2005 (CET)

Move to attribute?
Maybe this page should be moved to Attribute:Vector? Fuelbottle 19:26, 15 November 2005 (CET)


 * I would say Type:Vector, because we speak about a Datatype - even Datatypes are not implemented so far. MovGP0 19:34, 15 November 2005 (CET)


 * Is there a page anywhere here or on meta discussion datatypes? Fuelbottle 20:32, 15 November 2005 (CET)


 * no - but feel free to create one MovGP0 20:40, 15 November 2005 (CET)


 * It looks like the current plan is to hardcode the datatypes, in that case vectors and matrices would be arrays of type float or integer and any attribute that needs to use this datatype will just specify that in the attribute's page. I think it may be hard to make a flexible system making new datatypes in a Type namespace. Fuelbottle 21:16, 15 November 2005 (CET)


 * I don't think so - there is already XML-Schema for defining new Types. The calculation can be expressed with MathML. The Problems here are:
 * make the Syntax simpler
 * create a Software witch can handle this
 * The later is the bigger Problem. I understand the Programmers in that case - it would be way more complex to create a generic approach than just hardcoding the basics. MovGP0 03:47, 16 November 2005 (CET)