Calculus · College

Linear Algebra Terms

Vectors, matrices, eigenvalues, and vector space concepts from an introductory college linear algebra course.

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What is a vector?
An ordered list of numbers (or scalars) arranged in a specific sequence.
What does it mean for two vectors to be parallel?
One vector is a scalar multiple of the other.
Define the dot product of two vectors.
The sum of the products of their corresponding components.
What is the norm (or length) of a vector?
The square root of the sum of the squares of its components.
Define orthogonal vectors.
Vectors whose dot product is zero.
What is a matrix?
A rectangular array of numbers organized in rows and columns.
What is the transpose of a matrix?
The matrix obtained by swapping its rows and columns.
When can two matrices be multiplied together?
When the number of columns in the first equals the number of rows in the second.
Define the identity matrix.
A square matrix with ones on the main diagonal and zeros elsewhere.
What is the determinant?
A scalar value computed from a square matrix that encodes scaling and orientation properties.
What does a zero determinant indicate about a matrix?
The matrix is singular (non-invertible).
What is an invertible matrix?
A square matrix that has a multiplicative inverse (A * A inverse = I).
Define an eigenvalue.
A scalar lambda such that Av = lambda*v for some non-zero vector v.
Define an eigenvector.
A non-zero vector v such that Av = lambda*v for some scalar lambda.
What is an eigenspace?
The set of all eigenvectors corresponding to a particular eigenvalue, plus the zero vector.

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