PlanetMath: scalar

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scalar

(Definition)

A scalar is a quantity that is invariant under coordinate transformation, also known as a tensor of rank 0. For example, the number 1 is a scalar, so is any number or variable $n\in\mathbb{R}$ . The point is not a scalar because it is variable under rotation. As such, a scalar can be an element of a field over which a vector space is defined.

"scalar" is owned by mathcam. [ full author list (2) | owner history (2) ]

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See Also: Euclidean vector, eigenvalue, axial vector

Keywords:

scalar

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Cross-references: vector space, field, rotation, point, variable, rank, tensor, transformation, coordinate, invariant
There are 156 references to this entry.

This is version 4 of scalar, born on 2001-11-15, modified 2004-06-16.
Object id is 870, canonical name is Scalar.
Accessed 11646 times total.

Classification:

AMS MSC:

15A03 (Linear and multilinear algebra; matrix theory :: Vector spaces, linear dependence, rank)

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