1. vector differentiation

Under the topic of differentiation of vectors, it says "an infinitesimall increment dR of a vector R, does not need to be collinear with vector R".
but why? A vector has magnitude and direction. if you make an increase to that vector in a different direction than the original vector, even if it is infinitesimall, the resultant direction changes. so why or how can they say this?

2. Re: vector differentiation

Originally Posted by ketanco
Under the topic of differentiation of vectors, it says "an infinitesimall increment dR of a vector R, does not need to be collinear with vector R". but why? A vector has magnitude and direction. if you make an increase to that vector in a different direction than the original vector, even if it is infinitesimall, the resultant direction changes. so why or how can they say this?
WHAT says?
Is this a book on non-standard analysis?
You my want to look at In Elementary Calculus: An Infinitesimal Approach
In Elementary Calculus: An Infinitesimal Approach by Jerome Keisler in chapter 3, there is good proof of this. The chapters and whole book is a free down-load at H. Jerome Keisler Home Page.

3. Re: vector differentiation

Originally Posted by ketanco
Under the topic of differentiation of vectors, it says "an infinitesimall increment dR of a vector R, does not need to be collinear with vector R".
but why? A vector has magnitude and direction. if you make an increase to that vector in a different direction than the original vector, even if it is infinitesimall, the resultant direction changes. so why or how can they say this?
Since you are talking about differentiation I assume that your vector $\vec R = \vec R(t)$ and perhaps represents the position vector of a moving particle. Unless the particle is moving directly away from the origin, you wouldn't expect $\vec R(t+\Delta t) - \vec R(t)$ to be parallel to $\vec R(t)$, would you?

4. Re: vector differentiation

I notice you are from Turkey so perhaps this is just a language problem. You quote "an infinitesimal increment dR of a vector R, does not need to be collinear with vector R" but then you say " if you make an increase to that vector in a different direction than the original vector, even if it is infinitesimall, the resultant direction changes."

YOU are saying exactly the same thing as the quote!

5. Re: vector differentiation

Originally Posted by Walagaster
Since you are talking about differentiation I assume that your vector $\vec R = \vec R(t)$ and perhaps represents the position vector of a moving particle. Unless the particle is moving directly away from the origin, you wouldn't expect $\vec R(t+\Delta t) - \vec R(t)$ to be parallel to $\vec R(t)$, would you?
This was in a book for theory of elasticity, when introducing necessary math concepts. so then you are saying, a very small increase to a vector, for differentiation purposes, does not necessarily need to be in the same direction with the original vector correct?

6. Re: vector differentiation

Originally Posted by ketanco
This was in a book for theory of elasticity, when introducing necessary math concepts. so then you are saying, a very small increase to a vector, for differentiation purposes, does not necessarily need to be in the same direction with the original vector correct?
Yes.