What is Orthonormal: Definition & Explanation

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An orthonormal set of vectors consists of vectors that are both normalized to 1 and orthogonal to each other, mathematically expressed as the dot product equating to the Kronecker delta function. Functions can also be treated as vectors with a defined dot product, such as the integral involving a weighting function. The orthogonality properties of trigonometric functions are demonstrated through specific integral equations, which yield results based on the indices of the functions. These properties are crucial in various applications, including signal processing and Fourier analysis. Understanding orthonormality is essential for working with vector spaces and function spaces in advanced mathematics.
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Definition/Summary

A set of vectors
<br /> \left\{\mathbf{v}^{(i)}\right\}<br />
is called "orthonormal" if the vectors of the set are normalized to 1 and are orthogonal to each other.

<br /> \mathbf{v}^{(i)}\cdot\mathbf{v}^{(j)}=\delta_{ij}\;,<br />
where \delta_{ij} is the Kronecker delta function.

Equations



Extended explanation

Functions may also be considered as vectors with an appropriately defined dot-product. For example, the dot product for functions of a single variable could be defined as
<br /> \mathbf{f}\cdot\mathbf{g}\equiv \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} w(x) f^*(x) g(x)dx\;,<br />
where w(x) is an appropriate weighing function. An example where w(x) is a unitstep function on the interval 2p, and where f and g are trig functions is given below.

In what follow, the constants m and n are nonnegative real integers. The orthogonality properties of the trigonometric system are expressed by:

<br /> \begin{align*}<br /> \int_{ - p + x_0 }^{p + x_0 } {\sin {\frac{m\pi x}{p}}\cos {\frac{n\pi x}{p}} x} &amp;= 0 \quad \text{for all m and n} \\<br /> \int_{ - p + x_0 }^{p + x_0 } {\cos {\frac{m\pi x}{p}} \cos {\frac{n\pi x}{p}} dx} &amp;= <br /> \left\{<br /> \begin{array}{cll}<br /> 2p &amp; \text{for}&amp;m=n=0\\<br /> p &amp; \text{for} &amp;m=n&gt;0\\<br /> 0 &amp; \text{for} &amp;m\neq n<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right. \\<br /> \int_{ - p + x_0 }^{p + x_0 } {\sin {\frac{m\pi x}{p}} \sin {\frac{n\pi x}{p}} d x} &amp;= <br /> \left\{<br /> \begin{array}{cll}<br /> 0 &amp; \text{for}&amp;m=n=0\\<br /> p &amp; \text{for} &amp;m=n&gt;0\\<br /> 0 &amp; \text{for} &amp;m\neq n.<br /> \end{array}<br /> \right.<br /> \end{align*}<br />

Here 2p is the period, and x_0 is an arbitrary constant. We are allowed to add the constant x_0 to the limits, since we are integrating over a full period.

* This entry is from our old Library feature. If you know who wrote it, please let us know so we can attribute a writer. Thanks!
 
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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?

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