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Norm, Normalize and column vectors

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg126388] Norm, Normalize and column vectors
• From: Brentt <brenttnewman at gmail.com>
• Date: Sun, 6 May 2012 03:24:13 -0400 (EDT)
• Delivered-to: l-mathgroup@mail-archive0.wolfram.com

Why does Norm work with column vectors, but Normalize does not?

e.g..
In[1]:= Norm[{{1}, {2}, {3}}]

Out[1]= Sqrt[14]

But

In[2]:=Normalize[{{1}, {2}, {3}}]

Throws red


It even says in the documentation that Normalize[v] essentially returns

Times[Power[Norm[v],-1],v],   except returning the 0 vector for the 0
vector.
Strangely, the above "equivalent" expression would handle all but th 0
column vector with aplomb.

I find this curious. Is there a good explanation for this?

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Norm, Normalize and column vectors
    • From: Brentt <brenttnewman@gmail.com>
  • Re: Norm, Normalize and column vectors
    • From: Murray Eisenberg <murray@math.umass.edu>