If pictures stop working past three dimensions, what lets us compute in R⁵⁰⁰⁰ — and why does a two-element set with 1 + 1 = 0 count as a field?
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Pictures in versus the algebra of
Sketch a vector as an arrow that may slide parallel to itself, draw tip-to-tail, and record that is handled algebraically, which names the subject linear algebra.
The additive inverse
State the defining equation , derive the coordinate formula from it, and sketch and in as equal-length arrows pointing opposite ways.
Scalar multiplication
Write the definition, sketch , and to show the cases and , and record how it differs from the dot product.
The definition of a field
List the required elements and and the arithmetic properties, give , , the rationals and with as examples, and note where arbitrary fields fall short.