Re: [boost] different matrix library?

Subject: Re: [boost] different matrix library?
From: dherring_at_[hidden]
Date: 2009-08-14 17:53:54

On Fri, 14 Aug 2009, Edward Grace wrote:
> On 14 Aug 2009, at 18:43, DE wrote:
>>>>    w = wedge(u,v);
>>
>> w = cross_product(u,v) please :p
>
> Err, that's only true in 3D (vectors of length 3).  There's no such
> thing as a cross product between (say) vectors of length 2,4 or
> indeed anything else.  The cross product is, in effect, a restricted
> version of the exterior (wedge) product which exists for higher
> dimensions.

Actually, it was developed the other way; the exterior product is one 
possible generalization of the cross product to higher dimensions.  The 
cross product is unique in R3, but other generalizations are possible. 
IMO, cross_product(u,v) should still be provided for R3, even if it is 
simply an inline call to exterior_product(u,v).

- Daniel