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("Orthogonal" is a jargony way of saying "opposed.") Update: Several commenters raised questions about my gloss of "orthogonal." So I emailed Basu to ask him h
by georgecmu 16y ago
("Orthogonal" is a jargony way of saying "opposed.")
Update: Several commenters raised questions about my gloss of "orthogonal." So I emailed Basu to ask him how he was using the word here. His answer: "Orthogonal interests are interests pulling in opposite directions."
Yeah... someone needs a refresher in linear algebra and a reminder not to use words the meaning of which he doesn't know.
- pingswept 16y agoAgreed. Can we just be clear? "Orthogonal" means "perpendicular."
- AndyKelley 16y agoSeems clear to me. Parallel == same direction. Perpendicular == different directions.
- A1kmm 16y agoParallel can mean in the same direction, or it can mean in exactly opposite directions. North and south train lines might run parallel to each other, for example. In plain English, two things are orthogonal if they are unrelated or independent of each other. In linear algebra, this meaning is given a more specific technical meaning of perpendicular; transforming a point p by a vector u that is orthogonal to a basis vector v to get p' means that p and p' have the same multiplier on v (i.e. the contribution of v is independent of transformations orthogonal to v)
- Luyt 16y agoI associate 'orthogonal' with CPU instruction sets: the ability to combine any instruction with any register (and adressing mode).
- scotty79 16y agoDoes orthogonal mean opposite or unrelated (not bound, free from connection) when non mathematicians use this word?
- neutronicus 16y ago"Opposite" is a about as related as it's possible to be. Hence the objections.