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I used to use x and y as my generic loop iteration variables until I worked on code that involved two-dimensional coordinates, and suddenly x and y had very spe

by krylon 9y ago

I used to use x and y as my generic loop iteration variables until I worked on code that involved two-dimensional coordinates, and suddenly x and y had very specific meaning. I skipped to i and j, but I am certain there are mathematicians out there who find that confusing, too. I guess, it's about context, too, at least a little.

lomnakkus 9y ago
> I skipped to i and j, but I am certain there are mathematicians out there who find that confusing, too. IME it's pretty standard in most of mathematics to use "i" and "j" as index variables when e.g. doing sums and products over indices/sets. (Though I suppose you could be talking about the use of i, j, k as axes?)
- krylon 9y ago
  I think in Quaternions, i, j, and k are the non-real components.
  - lomnakkus 9y ago
    Good point, I'd missed that one! :) What does one for index variables in that notation? Or is the main point of q notation that you don't need index variables? ;)