Re: does a mean vector exist?


Jack wrote:

If I take a whole bunch of vectors and integrate them, is it possible
to
find a mean vector that approximates the "flow" of such vectors?
e.g.
XXX
XX
XX

I will get
X
X
X

Hope you understand
Thanks
Jack

Vectors can be added to each other and they can be multiplied by
scalars, so you could just calculate an average as usual: add them up
and divide (*) by the number of them. This would, in some contexts at
least, be a reasonable interpretation of their average. (*) More
precisely, if there were n vectors, multiply by 1 / n.

If you had two vectors of length 1, one pointing NE and one NW, this
average would have length ~ 0.7 and point N. Sometimes, the average
would be zero e.g. four vectors of equal lengths pointing N, E, S and
W.

--
Seán O'Leathlóbhair

.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: does a mean vector exist?
    ... This could apply to any kinds of vectors, not just physical vectors in ... Jack wrote: ... find a mean vector that approximates the "flow" of such vectors? ...
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