Vector Space
A vector space is a set that is closed under finite vector addition and scalar multiplication. The basic example is n-dimensional Euclidean space.
Vector space is a college-level concept that would be first encountered in a linear algebra course.
Examples
| Euclidean Space: |
Euclidean space of dimension n is the space of all n-tuples of real numbers which generalizes the two-dimensional plane and three-dimensional space. |
Prerequisites
| Banach Space: |
A Banach space is a vector space that has a complete norm. Banach spaces are important in the study of infinite-dimensional vector spaces. |
| Hilbert Space: |
A Hilbert space is a vector space that has a complete inner product. Hilbert spaces are important in the study of infinite-dimensional vector spaces. |
| Matrix: |
A matrix is a concise and useful way of uniquely representing and working with linear transformations. In particular, for every linear transformation, there exists exactly one corresponding matrix, and every matrix corresponds to a unique linear transformation. The matrix is an extremely important concept in linear algebra. |
| Scalar: |
A scalar is value (such as a measurement) that has only magnitude but not direction. This contrasts with a vector, which has direction as well as magnitude. |
| Tangent Space: |
A tangent space is a vector space of all possible tangent vectors to a point on a manifold. |
| Vector: |
(1) In vector algebra, a vector mathematical entity that has both magnitude (which can be zero) and direction. (2) In topology, a vector is an element of a vector space. |
Classroom Articles on Linear Algebra (Up to College Level)
