[Numpy-discussion] matrix default to column vector?

[Charles R Harris]

On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 12:34 PM, Olivier Verdier <zelbier at gmail.com> wrote:

> I took that very seriously when you said that matrices were important to
> you. Far from me the idea of forbidding numpy users to use matrices.
> My point was the fact that newcomers are confused by the presence of both
> matrices and arrays. I think that there should be only one
> matrix/vector/tensor object in numpy. Therefore I would advocate the removal
> of matrices from numpy.
>
> *But* why not have matrices in a different component? Maybe as a part of
> scipy? or somewhere else? You would be more than welcome to use them
> anywhere. Note that I use components outside numpy for my teaching (scipy,
> sympy, mayavi, nosetest) and I don't have any problems with that.
>
> With my "argument" I endeavoured to explain the potential complications of
> using matrices instead of arrays when teaching. Perhaps the strongest
> argument against matrices is that you cannot use vectors. I've taught enough
> matlab courses to realise the pain that this represents for students. But I
> realise also that somebody else would have a different experience.
>
> Of course x.T*y should be a 1x1 matrix, this is not an anomaly, but it is
> confusing for students, because they expect a scalar. That is why I prefer
> to teach with dot. Then the relation matrix/vector/scalar is crystal clear.
>

How about the common expression

exp((v.t*A*v)/2)

do you expect a matrix exponential here? Or should the students write

exp(<v, A*v>/2)

where <...> is the inner product?

Chuck
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