noun
vector
A mathematical quantity represented by an ordered set of components.
The vector points from the origin to a position on the grid.
Etymology
The Latin noun means carrier. Mathematics adopted it for a directed quantity, later generalized to ordered components representing such quantities.
In context
speed is always positive velocity can be positive or negative now recall that a scalar quantity only has magnitude whereas a vector quantity has magnitude and direction
More examples
- The vector (3, 2) has two components.
- We add the vectors by adding their corresponding components.
- Each vector in the data set represents one patient's measurements.
Forms
vector · vectors
Similar words
- tuple
- Lists ordered components without necessarily supporting vector operations.
- array
- Stores indexed values without necessarily representing a mathematical vector.