Math Newb Wants to know what a Tensor is

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A tensor is a mathematical object that generalizes vectors and scalars, characterized by its transformation properties under changes of coordinates. Tensors change homogeneously, meaning if they are zero in one coordinate system, they are zero in all systems. They can take multiple vectors as input and produce another vector or a scalar as output, with their rank indicating the number of vectors they can accept. Scalars are considered tensors of rank zero, while vectors are tensors of rank one. Tensors are crucial in expressing physical laws, particularly in fields like differential geometry and general relativity.
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