Why vector form is convenient?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the convenience of using vector form to specify points in a 3D coordinate system. It explores the theoretical and conceptual aspects of vector representation in mathematics and geometry.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the vectorial description contains all necessary information to identify a point without any superfluous details.
  • Others argue that the way vectors are written allows for easy manipulation as numbers, facilitating operations like addition and multiplication, and providing geometric interpretations of these operations.
  • One participant notes that multiple points can exist at the same distance from the origin, making a single number insufficient for identification, and emphasizes that three numbers are needed to specify a point in 3D space.
  • Another point raised is that the concept of scalar multiplication and vectors was developed to simplify the representation of points and their relationships, as illustrated by the midpoint formula derived from the geometry of similar triangles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the advantages of vector representation in identifying points in 3D space, but the discussion includes multiple perspectives on the reasons for this convenience.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the definitions of vectors and points in 3D space are present, and the discussion does not resolve the nuances of these concepts.

manimaran1605
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I read that a point relative to origin in 3D coordinate system is conveniently specified by the vector form, why?
 
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Because
a) the vectorial description contains all the info required to identify the point, and nothing superfluous
b) The manner in which we write vectors makes it easy for us to treat them as a type of numbers; that is, we easily see how to add, and for that matter (sort of) multiply them together, and also how to interpret, in a geometric sense, what such algebraic operations "really" means.
 
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Because there are many different points the same distance from the origin (or anyone point) of a coordinate system so a single number will not suffice to identify it. Equivalently, it take 3 numbers to identify everypoint in a 3D coordinate system (pretty much the definition of "3D") and it is convenient to arrange those numbers in an array. It is the fact, from geometry of similar triangles, that the coordinates [itex](x_0, y_0, z_0)[/itex] of a point exactly 1/2 way between two points [itex](x_1, y_1, z_1)[/itex] and [itex](x_2, y_2, z_2)[/itex] are [itex](x_0, y_0, z_0)= ((x_1+ x_2)/2, (y_1+ y_2)/2, (z_1+ z_2)/2)[/itex] that means that "scalar multiplication" of vectors is convenient (in fact, "scalar multiplication" and the whole idea of vectors was created to simplify that).

(Arildno got in two minutes before me! And we are saying essentially the same thing.)
 
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got it, Thank you both for clarifying my doubt
 

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