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I may be biased since I come from a math background; but what is a clearer termonology? Covariance is when things vary in the same way; and contravariance is w
by gizmo686 6y ago
I may be biased since I come from a math background; but what is a clearer termonology?
Covariance is when things vary in the same way; and contravariance is when they vary in opposite ways. This isn't even random math jargon; co/contra, vary, and ance are all standard english words/affixes being used for their normal meaning.
In my experience, what is difficult is understanding contravariant relationships; but that is not a problem of terminology.
- bryan0 6y agoYes, you might be right, this might be completely clear, and I just find it confusing for some reason but from the example in the OP I have no idea the point it is trying to get across with these terms, e.g: """ This is covariance in action: Every bike is a vehicle. (But not every vehicle is a bike.) Every bike factory is a vehicle factory. (But not every vehicle factory is a bike factory.) """ As far as for tensor stuff, I think what is confusing to me at least, is that the components of standard vectors are contravariant, while their dual covectors are covariant. contravariant tensors raise indices and covariants lower them. Anyway I'm glad this is clear to you but I find it confusing. Although I wonder now if there is a mapping from the OO diagrams in the OP with Penrose Tensor notations where everything will just make sense.... edit: missing word