Difference between revisions of "Vector"

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(Needed cleaning up, and, in particular, needed to link to the vector space page.)
 
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The word '''vector''' has many meanings.
 
The word '''vector''' has many meanings.
  
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*A '''[[disease vector]]''' is an insect, animal or other organism which spreads disease indirectly.  
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*In epidemiology, a '''[[disease vector]]''' is an insect, animal or other organism which spreads disease indirectly.  
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*In [[mathematics]], a '''vector''' is a quantity with magnitude and direction. For example, an airplane has [[speed]] and a compass heading (e.g., 600 MPH, headed North).
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*In [[mathematics]] and [[physics]], a '''vector''' is a quantity with magnitude and direction. For example, an airplane has [[speed]] and a compass heading (e.g., 600 MPH, headed North). See [[vector space]] for further discussion of this topic.
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*In [[computer]] science, the word has several meanings.  The most common one in computer programming is that of an array—a data structure containing some number of similar items, which allows random access to its contents.  This relates to the list of the components of a vector in physics, but it can consist of thousands of items in computer programs. Typical of this is the use in the [[C++]] [[programming language]] [[Standard Template Library]].
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*In [[physics]], [[velocity]] is a vector quantity while speed by itself is a ''scalar'' quantity. Vectors in math and physics are typically graphed as arrows pointing in the direction of a quantity such as velocity. The length of the arrow shows its magnitude. This makes it easy to add vector quantities (you line up the tail of one arrow with the point of the other).  
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*A ''vector processor'' computer carries out operations on many elements of an array (that is, a vector) at the same time.
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*In [[computer]] science, a vector is data structure which allows random access to its contents but which can also be extended. Typical of this is the [[C++]] [[programming language]] [[Standard Template Library]] use.
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*''Vector graphics'' are an obsolete form of computer graphics defined by line and shape primitives, as opposed to the modern ''bitmap graphics''.  In this sense, the word "vector" is related to the notion of a vector as a geometrical arrow.
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*A ''vector processor'' computer carries out operations on many elements of an array at the same time
 
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*''Vector graphics'' are a form of graphics defined by line and shape primitives, compared with ''bitmap graphics'' where they are defined by image data.
 
  
 
[[Category:Disambiguation Pages]]
 
[[Category:Disambiguation Pages]]

Latest revision as of 02:56, November 1, 2009

The word vector has many meanings.

  • In epidemiology, a disease vector is an insect, animal or other organism which spreads disease indirectly.
  • In mathematics and physics, a vector is a quantity with magnitude and direction. For example, an airplane has speed and a compass heading (e.g., 600 MPH, headed North). See vector space for further discussion of this topic.
  • In computer science, the word has several meanings. The most common one in computer programming is that of an array—a data structure containing some number of similar items, which allows random access to its contents. This relates to the list of the components of a vector in physics, but it can consist of thousands of items in computer programs. Typical of this is the use in the C++ programming language Standard Template Library.
  • A vector processor computer carries out operations on many elements of an array (that is, a vector) at the same time.
  • Vector graphics are an obsolete form of computer graphics defined by line and shape primitives, as opposed to the modern bitmap graphics. In this sense, the word "vector" is related to the notion of a vector as a geometrical arrow.
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