Scalar, vector, and function Scalar When I want to mention a quantity, I use numbers. A number always represents ``something.'' For example, if I said 130, what is this number means? The number itself has not so much meaning. This could be someone is 130cm tall, or Autobahn's speed limit is 130km/hour. One number represent ``something'' e.g., ``tall cm'', ``speed limit km/hour.'' Figure 1 shows this. These single numbers are Scalers. It is just a number, why it has a special name Scalar? I think this is just for distinguishing a scalar and a vector (or a (complex) number). Figure 1 Scalar has some meaning Vector There are many stuffs I can not represent with a scalar. For instance, a place. The distance from my apartment to Zoo station can be represented by a scalar value. But, if you need a direction, I can't tell it by a scalar value. I could say, 50 degree from the north in clockwise direction, the distance is 5 km. Or go north 3
Mathematics, programming, and a little bit of my life.