Vector Functions Searching Video Lecture

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of vector functions and their applications in calculus and differential geometry. The participants also mention various resources, such as textbooks and video lectures, for further understanding of vector functions. General advice is given for understanding the concept of functions and their associated concepts, as well as partial derivatives and the definitions of kf, f+g, and fg. The conversation concludes with a student expressing concerns about understanding future chapters in a differential geometry book.
  • #1
RyanH42
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Hi I am studying Differantial Geometry.My textbook is Lipschultz Differantia Geometry and I am in chapter two.I undersand the basic idea of Vector function but I wanI to gain more information.Is there any video lectures about vector functions.I found this http://ocw.mit.edu/resources/res-18...ture-1-vector-functions-of-a-scalar-variable/ but its look like old.Is this MIT lecture is enough to understand vector functions.If you know book which one is best for me.
Thanks
Edit :I found these thing too
http://cosmolearning.org/courses/unsw-vector-calculus-546/video-lectures/
https://math.berkeley.edu/~hutching/teach/53videos.html
 
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  • #2
Well I think a calculus book might help, I don't know exactly what are you looking for.
A vector function is a function that is also a vector :-p (tautology).
An example is the force in the 2nd Newton's law:
[itex] \vec{F}(t) = m \vec{a}(t)= m a_x(t) \hat{x} + m a_y(t) \hat{y} + m a_z(t) \hat{z}[/itex]

Or another example is the ballistic trajectory of a cannon ball that moves into the gravitational field (which is a parabola), when thrown at an angle [itex]\theta[/itex] with respect to the horizontal axis with some initial velocity [itex]u_0[/itex]:
[itex] \vec{x}(t) = t u_0 \cos \theta \hat{x} + \big(t u_0 \sin \theta - \frac{1}{2} gt^2\big) \hat{y}[/itex].
 
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  • #3
If you have an opportunity look pdf page 22 Neighborhoods and then vector functions.Vector function is a tye of function describes curves.Let ##a,b,c## be a vectors then vector function is ##f(t)=f_1(t)e_1+f_2(t)e_2+f_3(t)e_3## this is called vector function .It defines curves
 
  • #4
did you read my editted x(t) example? for the curve that describes the trajectory of a cannon ball?
[itex]u_0, \theta[/itex] are just numbers, and the parametrization of the curve is done by the parameter [itex]t[/itex] (the time here)
 
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  • #5
You parametrize the trajectory curve (blue dots) with the elapsed time [itex]t[/itex] (for different [itex]t[/itex] your vector function [itex]\vec{x}(t)[/itex] will point to some point along the curve as I show some examples for different values of [itex]t[/itex]).PS. Sorry for the ugly sketch, but I am not an artist when it comes to using the paint with a touchpad.
 

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  • #6
Yeah,I unerstand the idea thanks:wink::smile:.I finished the chapter two.I am in now solved problems section.I will going to do that tomorrow.
 
  • #7
I'm not clear on what exactly you need to learn, so I can only say that this will be a good time to wipe the dust off your old calculus books. Some general advice:

Make sure that you understand the concept of "function" (="map") and associated concepts perfectly. I'm talking about concepts such as domain, codomain and range, and also injective, surjective, bijective, preimage, etc., as well as notations such as ##f:X\to Y##.

Never refer to f(x) as a function (unless it really is). Typically f is the function, and f(x) is an element of its codomain. (When you're doing physics, you can usually ignore this advice without causing too much confusion. But if you ignore this advice when you're doing differential geometry, you will confuse the hell out of yourself).

Make sure that you understand the difference between "x is a function of t" and "x is a function". (The former statement is typically used when the symbols x and t both represent real numbers, or when x represents a vector and t a real number. It means that the value of x, i.e. the number or vector represented by the symbol x, is completely determined by the value of t. If that's the case, then there's a function f such that x=f(t). That function is sometimes denoted by x, especially in physics books. This contributes to students not understanding the difference between the two phrases).

Make sure that you understand partial derivatives.

Make sure that you understand the definitions of kf, f+g and fg, when k is a real number and f,g are real-valued functions on some set S. Make sure that you understand that the first two of these definitions turn the set of real-valued functions on S into a vector space.
 
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  • #8
Actually This differantial geometry book is really though.I don't know I can understand the next chapters.The book designed for graduate students but I am in high school.
Fredrik said:
I'm not clear on what exactly you need to learn, so I can only say that this will be a good time to wipe the dust off your old calculus books. Some general advice:

Make sure that you understand the concept of "function" (="map") and associated concepts perfectly. I'm talking about concepts such as domain, codomain and range, and also injective, surjective, bijective, preimage, etc., as well as notations such as ##f:X\to Y##.

Never refer to f(x) as a function (unless it really is). Typically f is the function, and f(x) is an element of its codomain. (When you're doing physics, you can usually ignore this advice without causing too much confusion. But if you ignore this advice when you're doing differential geometry, you will confuse the hell out of yourself).

Make sure that you understand the difference between "x is a function of t" and "x is a function". (The former statement is typically used when the symbols x and t both represent real numbers, or when x represents a vector and t a real number. It means that the value of x, i.e. the number or vector represented by the symbol x, is completely determined by the value of t. If that's the case, then there's a function f such that x=f(t). That function is sometimes denoted by x, especially in physics books. This contributes to students not understanding the difference between the two phrases).

Make sure that you understand partial derivatives.

Make sure that you understand the definitions of kf, f+g and fg, when k is a real number and f,g are real-valued functions on some set S. Make sure that you understand that the first two of these definitions turn the set of real-valued functions on S into a vector space.
I understand I guess.I made examples and I can solve them.I don't want to give up but Is there any chance to me understand further chapters (considering my situation )
 
  • #9
RyanH42 said:
Actually This differantial geometry book is really though.I don't know I can understand the next chapters.The book designed for graduate students but I am in high school.
I see. I think it will be impossible for you to understand the proofs and definitions that involve topology (open sets, limits of sequences, continuity, etc.) I'm not familiar with this particular book, but books on differential geometry usually contain a lot of proofs of that sort. If you insist on trying to study differential geometry now, you will have to skip the parts that involve topology and then be prepared to study differential geometry again a few years from now, when you're better prepared. But if you have a solid understanding of the concepts I mentioned (this would make you a very unusual high school student), then you may still be able to understand the big picture and learn enough to do many different types of problems and enough to be able to read books on general relativity.
 
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  • #10
It depends on what you define as "tough" ...
The + (for your level) of this book is that it explains things through examples and illustrations rather than definitions and proofs (that can be a - for someone who wants to get deeper into the maths).
The - (I think for you) is that it explains some things in a very simple way (thinking that the reader understands what is going on) while for your level some of those things may not appear so "natural". It's a matter of practice for many people...you should spend more time thinking/working over the things that appear "non-trivial" to you.
Calculus may help, however I don't know of a good book for you. I never had a good book in calculus o0)
Well, I still have a feeling you are going too fast...maybe you were in a hurry to reach chapters 8+...spend more time in understanding how to work with the first chapters (which can also help you prepare for the first year of your uni studies).
That's because differential geometry can help you work with things that are not only associated with General Relativity, but also classical mechanics (as the ballistic trajectory I mentioned in previous post). Especially when studying curves (associated with trajectories), and getting the positions (those "vector functions"), velocities (which will be the "vector functions" derivatives/tangent to the curves) etc, things that he starts building in chapter 4 and things like TNB frames:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenet–Serret_formulas
 
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  • #11
I will going to spend more time on thinking.I will going to look again chapter 1 and chapter 2.
ChrisVer said:
Well, I still have a feeling you are going too fast...maybe you were in a hurry to reach chapters 8+...spend more time in understanding how to work with the first chapters (which can also help you prepare for the first year of your uni studies).
This is also good for me.

Fredrik said:
But if you have a solid understanding of the concepts I mentioned (this would make you a very unusual high school student), then you may still be able to understand the big picture and learn enough to do many different types of problems and enough to be able to read books on general relativity.
This is %90 true for chapter one and chapter two.I can see the big picture.But I didnt understand the concepts nearly and of chapter two.I will going to look them again
I will going to finish this book.
The book ask sometimes "proof this thing" I can do half of them in chapter one.I work 5-6 hours to come this chapter.In high school we learned chapter one so it didnt took me a so much time to work on.In second chapter again.I know plane equation and other stuff.The textbook is very very good. I understand the basic concept.Example there says let's take a four point on a plane and let's ask us the equation of plane.This will be [(x-a)(b-a)(c-a)]=0 why, cause If we make (b-a)x(c-a) We will find a vector which its both perpendicular to b-a and c-a vectors and dot product of x-a and (b-a)x(c-a) will give us zero cause they are perpendicular.I don't know why but I felt that I need to proof myself.But you are right ChrisVer I am hurrying this my curse.I can be patient in my life but I can't be patient when te thing comes "learning".I want to know everything without effort.I know this is not possible.
In next chapters I need to work so hard cause they look like so tough.But again I will going to look again firt two chapters to understand concept better.Maybe I am a smart guy who knows ? (I don't thing that's true )
Thanks for advice.:smile::smile:
Later In homework section I will going to mention the questions which I couldnt.I will give you a total number of wrong answers or empty questions so you can coonsider my situation.I won't be lie to you guys.
 
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  • #12


This is Schaums outline Chapter 2 video lecture.I found it and its really helpfull.Vector Calculus
 

1. What is a vector function?

A vector function is a mathematical function that takes in one or more inputs and produces a vector as an output. It can also be thought of as a function that maps a set of input values to a set of vector values.

2. How are vector functions represented?

Vector functions can be represented using a variety of mathematical notations, such as parametric equations, vector-valued functions, or component form. In parametric equations, each component of the vector is represented as a separate function with respect to a common parameter. In vector-valued functions, the vector is represented as a single function with multiple components. In component form, each component of the vector is represented as a separate function of the input variables.

3. What is the purpose of searching for vector functions?

The purpose of searching for vector functions is to find a function that accurately describes a particular set of data points or a physical phenomenon. By finding a vector function that fits the data or describes the phenomenon, scientists can make predictions and better understand the underlying patterns and relationships.

4. What are some common applications of vector functions?

Vector functions have a wide range of applications in various fields of science, such as physics, engineering, and computer graphics. They are commonly used to describe the motion of objects in three-dimensional space, model the behavior of physical systems, and generate computer-generated images and animations.

5. What techniques are used to search for vector functions?

Some common techniques used to search for vector functions include regression analysis, curve fitting, and optimization methods. Regression analysis involves fitting a curve to a set of data points and finding a mathematical function that best describes the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Curve fitting uses similar methods but with a predefined function form. Optimization methods involve finding the vector function that minimizes a specific cost or error function.

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