math / Linear Algebra / free

Vectors & Matrices

Move a vector through a transformation and track what survives.

Follow the mechanism1 / 3

A vector carries direction and magnitude. Its coordinates describe a directed quantity in a chosen basis.

linear transformationmatrix changes space
Focus the idea
A vector transformed by a matrixThe input vector is 2.0, 1.0 and becomes 3.2, 0.8 under the selected transformation.Ae₁Ae₂vAv
matrix A[ 1.6 0.0 ; 0.0 0.8 ]
input v(2.0, 1.0)
output Av(3.2, 0.8)
area scale det A1.3
Transformation

The grid changes with the basis vectors: stretch changes how the whole space is organized.

A matrix transforms every vector in the same space. The determinant tells you how the transformation changes area; collapse has determinant zero and loses a dimension.