Is there such a thing as a virtual dimension

[brianhurren]

Is there such a thing as a virtual dimension. for instance if you move on a two dimensional surface, say you take 4 steps in x dimension and then 3 steps in y dimension and then say in z 3 steps, and to move in z you step x+(some predefined formula) and y+(some predefined formula). The z dimension is essentially that predefined formula. You can move on the plane is if there is an extra dimension, though obviously there isn't one, just behaves as though there is one...could z be considered a virtual dimension?

 

[Vorde]

No. Dimensions have rigorous definitions (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimension_(mathematics_and_physics )), but the bottom line is that if I can express "movement in the Z dimension" by movement in the X and Y dimensions then the "Z dimension" isn't a dimension at all. For it to be a dimension it would have to be the case that movement in the Z-direction would get me somewhere that I could never get by just moving in the x/y dimensions.