Cross product of row and column vector

Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around the mathematical relationship between the dot product of row and column vectors in matrix multiplication. It clarifies that the expression (AB)i,j represents the dot product of the ith row of matrix A and the jth column of matrix B, leading to an element in the resulting matrix. The participants emphasize that if the dot product is zero for non-equal indices, the vectors are orthogonal, highlighting the geometric significance of this relationship. There is a correction regarding terminology, as the term "cross product" is mistakenly used instead of "dot product," which is applicable in this context. Overall, the conversation seeks to clarify the nature of orthogonality and the proper application of vector operations in matrix algebra.
Gear300
Messages
1,209
Reaction score
9
For the two matrices A and B, (AB)i,j = ri . dj ---- . refers to dot product ---- ri is the ith row in A and dj is the jth column in B.

Let us say that A and B are n x n system of column vectors. Then a row vector ri of A would correlate to a component vector of the sum of the column vectors in A specified by the ith space. Wouldn't that imply that ri . dj would only be the product between the element dj,i and the sum of the elements of ri or am I just being too technical?
 
Last edited:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Is this a question about the common matrix multiplication?
 
Klockan3 said:
Is this a question about the common matrix multiplication?

Yup...the text said that if this dot product is 0 for all i =/= j and 1 for all i = j, then it carries geometric significance in that the rows of i in A and columns of j =/= i in B are orthogonal. I'm just trying to see this geometric significance.

In general, shouldn't the cross product of a 1 x n row vector in R1 and an n x 1 column vector in Rn space be the product between the sum of the elements in the row vector and the first element in the column vector?
 
Last edited:
Gear300 said:
Yup...the text said that if this cross product is 0 for all i =/= j and 1 for all i = j, then it carries geometric significance in that the rows of i in A and columns of j =/= i in B are orthogonal. I'm just trying to see this geometric significance.

In general, shouldn't the cross product of a 1 x n row vector in R1 and an n x 1 column vector in Rn space be the product between the sum of the elements in the row vector and the first element in the column vector?

I think you (or the book) must mean the dot product instead of the cross product. If the dot product of two vectors is zero then they are orthogonal.

The cross product of two vectors in R^n is not even defined if n > 3.
 
awkward said:
I think you (or the book) must mean the dot product instead of the cross product. If the dot product of two vectors is zero then they are orthogonal.

The cross product of two vectors in R^n is not even defined if n > 3.

Heheh...a little typo there. I meant dot product.

What I'm having trouble understanding is what is being orthogonal to what; I figured that the row vector in A is considered a component of the vector sum of the matrix and has a direction specific to whatever value i is; but this vector is in R1 space, whereas the column vector is in Rn space with n > 1. Wouldn't this mean that the dot product with the row vector only applies to the element in row i for the column vector?
 
Gear300 said:
Heheh...a little typo there. I meant dot product.

What I'm having trouble understanding is what is being orthogonal to what; I figured that the row vector in A is considered a component of the vector sum of the matrix and has a direction specific to whatever value i is; but this vector is in R1 space
The row vector is in Rn space, since there are n indices for each row. You take the inner product between the whole row vector with the whole column vector. Row i of A times column j of B creates the element ij of the new matrix. The first element in row i times the first element in column j plus the second element in row i times the second element in column j etc.
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

Similar threads

Replies
5
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K