Values of Scalers

Date: 9/11/96 at 12:58:1
From: Anonymous
Subject: Values of Scalers

As defined, can a scalar quantity be negative?

Date: 9/12/96 at 14:15:56
From: Doctor Ceeks
Subject: Re: Values of Scalers

Hi,

The notion of scalar generally refers to an element in a field.

If the field is the field of real numbers, or a subfield of the
real numbers, than a scalar can be negative.

But if the field has no notion of negative number, such as
for a finite field, or the field of complex numbers, then a
scalar quantity cannot be said to be negative or positive.

Some books may implicitly assume that all fields are real, however,
and may then use "negative scalars" without explanation.

What definition of scalar are you working with?

-Doctor Ceeks,  The Math Forum
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