If a vector also has a length, why is it perceived to be of 3 values?

[Krion]

Was wondering this when I learned about length vector functions in a tutorial..  

Edited April 24, 2019 by that Abstract guy

[bonsak]

Because the three values defines an imaginary line going from 0,0,0 to the position in space described by the 3 values. That point can be far away or i can be close to 0,0,0. This way the 3 values are able to define both a direction and a length.

-b

Edited April 25, 2019 by bonsak

[kleer001]

length = square root of (x^2 + y^2 + z^2)

direction = normalize (x,y,z) [puts that point on the surface of a unit sphere]

https://www.3dgep.com/3d-math-primer-for-game-programmers-vector-operations/

You should check out dot and cross product too:

https://betterexplained.com/articles/cross-product/

 

[schwungsau]

go through first 3 chapters here:
http://www.scratchapixel.com/lessons/mathematics-physics-for-computer-graphics/geometry/points-vectors-and-normals

it good explansion about vector's, Normal's etc...

[Krion]

Thanks for the answers and resources all of you!

[probiner]

There's ways to decompose/describe a vector

- 3 coordinates (xyz) that scale the coordinate system unit vectors (ijk) and add them together:  P = i*x + j*y + k*z.

- direction (vector scaled to length 1) and legth/magnitude (distance from tail to head of the vector)

- direction (two angles) and length

And more...

It's all about using the representation that is more sensible to the operation you are doing. For angular related calcs direction is handy, while for position calcs you want to deal with xyz, etc.

Edited April 25, 2019 by probiner