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Commit a24186e7 authored by Maciej Topyla's avatar Maciej Topyla
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Fixing figure, adding admonitions

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...@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ We will denote by ${\mathcal V}^n$ the **vector space** composed by all possible ...@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ We will denote by ${\mathcal V}^n$ the **vector space** composed by all possible
The components of a vector, $\{ v_i\}$ can be **real numbers** or **complex numbers**, The components of a vector, $\{ v_i\}$ can be **real numbers** or **complex numbers**,
depending on whether we have a real or a complex vector space. depending on whether we have a real or a complex vector space.
!!! note !!! info "Vector basis"
Note that the above expression of $\vec{v}$ in terms of its components assume that we are using a specific **basis**. Note that the above expression of $\vec{v}$ in terms of its components assume that we are using a specific **basis**.
It is important to recall that the same vector can be expressed in terms of different bases. It is important to recall that the same vector can be expressed in terms of different bases.
A **vector basis** is a set of $n$ vectors that can be used to generate all the elements of a vector space. A **vector basis** is a set of $n$ vectors that can be used to generate all the elements of a vector space.
...@@ -51,22 +51,26 @@ and we can write a generic vector $\vec{v}$ as ...@@ -51,22 +51,26 @@ and we can write a generic vector $\vec{v}$ as
$$\vec{v} = (v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_n) = v_1 \vec{a}_1 + v_2 \vec{a}_2 + \ldots v_n \vec{a}_n \, .$$ $$\vec{v} = (v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_n) = v_1 \vec{a}_1 + v_2 \vec{a}_2 + \ldots v_n \vec{a}_n \, .$$
However, one could choose another different basis, denoted by $\vec{b}_1,\vec{b}_2,\ldots,\vec{b_n}$, where the same vector would be expressed in terms of a different set of components However, one could choose a different basis, denoted by $\vec{b}_1,\vec{b}_2,\ldots,\vec{b_n}$, where the same vector would be expressed in terms of a different set of components
$$ \vec{v} = (v'_1, v'_2, \ldots, v'_n) = v'_1 \vec{b}_1 + v'_2 \vec{b}_2 + \ldots v'_n \vec{b}_n \, .$$ $$ \vec{v} = (v'_1, v'_2, \ldots, v'_n) = v'_1 \vec{b}_1 + v'_2 \vec{b}_2 + \ldots v'_n \vec{b}_n \, .$$
so while the vector remains the same, the values of its components depends on the specific choice of basis. Thus, while the vector remains the same, the values of its components depend on the specific choice of basis.
The most common basis is the **Cartesian basis**, where for example for $n=3$ one has The most common basis is the **Cartesian basis**, where for example for $n=3$:
$$\vec{a}_1 = (1, 0, 0) \, ,\qquad \vec{a}_2 = (0, 1, 0)\, ,\qquad \vec{a}_3 = (0, 0, 1) \, .$$ $$\vec{a}_1 = (1, 0, 0) \, ,\qquad \vec{a}_2 = (0, 1, 0)\, ,\qquad \vec{a}_3 = (0, 0, 1) \, .$$
The elements of a vector basis must be **linearly independent** from each other, meaning !!! warning ""
that none of them can be expressed as linear combination of the rest of basis vectors. The elements of a vector basis must be **linearly independent** from one another, meaning
that none of them can be expressed as a linear combination of the other basis vectors.
We can consider one example in the two-dimensional real vector space $\mathbb{R}$, namely the $(x,y)$ coordinate plane, shown below. We can consider one example in the two-dimensional real vector space $\mathbb{R}$, namely the $(x,y)$ coordinate plane, shown below.
![image](figures/3_vector_spaces_1.jpg) <figure markdown>
![image](figures/3_vector_spaces_1.jpg)
<figcaption></figcaption>
</figure>
We see how the same vector $\vec{v}$ can be expressed in two different bases. In the first one (left panel), the Cartesian basis, its components are $\vec{v}=(2,2)$. But in the second basis (right panel), the components are different, being instead $\vec{v}=(2.4 ,0.8)$, We see how the same vector $\vec{v}$ can be expressed in two different bases. In the first one (left panel), the Cartesian basis, its components are $\vec{v}=(2,2)$. But in the second basis (right panel), the components are different, being instead $\vec{v}=(2.4 ,0.8)$,
though the magnitude and direction of the vector itself remain unchanged. though the magnitude and direction of the vector itself remain unchanged.
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