In article <mailman.3570.1352682390.27098.python-l...@python.org>, Mark Lawrence <breamore...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> On 12/11/2012 00:31, Oscar Benjamin wrote: > > > > Plain wrong. Vectors are not defined *from any origin*. > > > > So when the Captain says "full speed ahead, steer 245 degrees", you > haven't the faintest idea where you're going, because you have no origin? Vectors have a length ("full speed ahead") and a direction ("245 degrees"). What they don't have is a fixed location in space. The captain didn't say, "Full speed ahead, steer 245 degrees, from 45.0N, 20.0W". In other words, you are correct. The order, "full speed ahead, steer 245 degrees", doesn't give you the faintest idea of where you're going. If you were the helmsman, after you executed that order, without any additional information (such as your current location), you would have no idea what piece of land you will hit, or when you will hit it, if you maintain your current course and speed. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list