Re: Dot product confusion
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg109978] Re: Dot product confusion
- From: Mark Adler <madler at alumni.caltech.edu>
- Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 06:44:17 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <htg90l$k7h$1@smc.vnet.net> <htiviq$2h1$1@smc.vnet.net>
On 2010-05-26 04:10:18 -0700, Roland Franzius said:
> The second product is mathematically incorrect in the context of general
> matrix multiplication because a matrix product of 3x3 . 1x3 does not
> exist.
That vector does not have dimensions 1x3. Its dimensions are simply 3.
It is not a 2-dimensional matrix:
Dimensions[{1, 2, 3}]
{3}
Dimensions[{{1, 2, 3}}]
{1, 3}
Dimensions[{{1}, {2}, {3}}]
{3, 1}
Mathematica is being completely consistent on how those are treated for
an inner product, where simply the inner two dimensions must be equal
and are removed:
m = {{1, 2}, {3, 4}};
Dimensions[m]
{2, 2}
Dimensions[{1, 2}.m]
{2}
Dimensions[{{1, 2}}.m]
{1, 2}
Dimensions[m.{1, 2}]
{2}
Dimensions[m.{{1}, {2}}]
{2, 1}
Mathematica does complain about improper matrix products, when the
arguments are in fact matrices, e.g. 2x2 . 1x2:
m.{{1, 2}}
Dot::dotsh: Tensors {{1,2},{3,4}} and {{1,2}} have incompatible shapes.
{{1, 2}, {3, 4}}.{{1, 2}}
Mark