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View Full Version : Linear algebra normalising a vector?


Chadlee88
Oct29-09, 04:20 AM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Let the vector V = (x1,y1,z1)

x1' = x1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)
y1' = x1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)
z1' = x1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)

What do you call x1', y1' and z1' in mathematics terms?

is x1' the norm of x1 and y1' the norm of y1?

Thanx



2. Relevant equations



3. The attempt at a solution

HallsofIvy
Oct29-09, 06:55 AM
No. x1', y1', and z1' are the x, y, and z components, respectively, of the normalized vector- the unit vector parallel to V.

LCKurtz
Oct31-09, 02:10 PM
If \vec V = \langle a,b,c \rangle is a vector and
|\vec V| = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}
is its length, or norm, then the vector
\hat V = \frac 1 {|\vec V|}\ \vec V = \langle \frac a {\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}},\frac b {\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}},\frac c {\sqrt{a^2 + b^2 + c^2}}\rangle
is called a unit vector. The components of this unit vector are sometimes called the direction cosines of \vec V.

HallsofIvy
Oct31-09, 04:31 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Let the vector V = (x1,y1,z1)

x1' = x1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)
y1' = x1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)
z1' = x1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)
I assume you mean
y1' = y1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)
z1' = z1/sqrt(x1^2 + y1^2 + z1^2)
rather than having "x1" as every numerator.

What do you call x1', y1' and z1' in mathematics terms?

is x1' the norm of x1 and y1' the norm of y1?

Thanx



2. Relevant equations



3. The attempt at a solution