Interpreting a vector expression

In summary, a vector expression is a mathematical representation of a vector quantity that includes both magnitude and direction. It can be written in various forms, and to interpret it, one must understand the meaning of each component. A vector expression differs from a scalar expression, as it represents a physical quantity with direction, while a scalar expression only has magnitude. Vector expressions can be added or subtracted using different methods, and to convert them into component form, one can use trigonometric functions and properties of right triangles.
  • #1
wofsy
726
0
In R^3 I have two vectors a and b and the operator D = (d/dx,d/dy,d/dz)

What is the interpretation/ picture of (aD)b - (bD)a? This is another vector.
 
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  • #2
You mean a geometrical interpretation? It's the Lie derivative, [itex]{\mathcal L}_A B[/itex].
 
  • #3
Ben Niehoff said:
You mean a geometrical interpretation? It's the Lie derivative, [itex]{\mathcal L}_A B[/itex].

thanks. That's all I need.
 

Related to Interpreting a vector expression

What is a vector expression?

A vector expression is a mathematical representation of a vector quantity, which has both magnitude and direction. It can be written in various forms, such as using coordinates, unit vectors, or components.

How do you interpret a vector expression?

To interpret a vector expression, you need to understand the meaning of each component or symbol in the expression. The magnitude of the vector is represented by the length or size of the arrow, while the direction is indicated by the orientation of the arrow.

What is the difference between a vector expression and a scalar expression?

A vector expression represents a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction, while a scalar expression represents a quantity that has only magnitude. For example, velocity is a vector quantity, while speed is a scalar quantity.

Can vector expressions be added or subtracted?

Yes, vector expressions can be added or subtracted using the parallelogram method or the tip-to-tail method. This allows you to combine multiple vectors to find their resultant vector, which represents the overall magnitude and direction of the combined vectors.

How do you convert a vector expression into its component form?

To convert a vector expression into its component form, you can use trigonometric functions and the properties of right triangles. This involves breaking down the vector into its horizontal and vertical components, which can then be expressed using coordinates or unit vectors.

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