Vector Definition Debate

Discussions center on the mathematical definition of vectors as elements of vector spaces versus geometric intuitions, including distinctions from matrices, tensors, and their use in linear algebra and machine learning contexts.

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Keywords

b.T OP stackexchange.com linalg.norm I.e youtube.com C.f weighted.mean wikipedia.org vector vectors tensor dimensional linear space spaces linear algebra matrix algebra

Sample Comments

ducttapecrown Oct 22, 2020 View on HN

Vectors are Nx1 matrices only once you choose an ordered basis!

itishappy Jun 2, 2023 View on HN

Same with vectors!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_(mathematics_and_physic...

marosgrego Jun 1, 2021 View on HN

It's a vector in the mathematical sense.

vcxy Mar 11, 2022 View on HN

I'm not sure I buy this after you just used an example of a 2d array of you're favorite colors just a few minutes ago. Maybe I'm missing something. What kind of linear transformation does that represent, and between what vector spaces?

bratwurst3000 Aug 12, 2024 View on HN

you could also call it a matrix to modify a matrix in a vector space. not 100% correct. xD

mrmuagi Sep 13, 2024 View on HN

Vector vs Matrices. Higher dimensional.

ffast-math Sep 1, 2021 View on HN

I'm actually not quite sure what you mean by breaking down into two-dimensional operations. We use operations on pairs of vectors, but nothing is assumed to be two-dimensional, and I don't think we suggest imagining anything as a plane? The vectors can be arbitrary and there's no assumption about curvature. Happy to clarify if I can help.

gowld Sep 20, 2019 View on HN

It's just an infinite-dimensional vector space ;-)

kimiai06 Jul 17, 2025 View on HN

hmm ok but like… are u sure that’s not just fancy word math? like, when u “rotate” these vectors, how do u even know the meaning stays the same? wouldn’t it just… drift or get messy?idk maybe i’m dumb lol, just seems like it could get random real quick

ausbah Apr 27, 2020 View on HN

this 3blue1brown video might answer your questionshttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8idr1WZ1A7Q