Tutorial

Vectors in Python - A Quick Introduction!

Published on August 3, 2022

Safa Mulani

Vectors in Python - A Quick Introduction!

Hello, folks! Today, we will be having a look at one of the most unaddressed topics in Python that is, Vectors in Python. So, let us begin!

First, what is a Vector?

A vector in a simple term can be considered as a single-dimensional array. With respect to Python, a vector is a one-dimensional array of lists. It occupies the elements in a similar manner as that of a Python list.

Let us now understand the Creation of a vector in Python.

Creation of a Vector in Python

Python NumPy module is used to create a vector. We use numpy.array() method to create a one-dimensional array i.e. a vector.

Syntax:

numpy.array(list)

Example 1: Horizontal Vector

import numpy as np 

lst = [10,20,30,40,50] 

vctr = np.array(lst) 

vctr = np.array(lst) 

print("Vector created from a list:") 
print(vctr)

Output:

Vector created from a list:
[10 20 30 40 50]

Example 2: Vertical Vector

import numpy as np 

lst = [[2], 
        [4], 
        [6],
          [10]]  

vctr = np.array(lst) 

vctr = np.array(lst) 

print("Vector created from a list:") 
print(vctr)

Output:

Vector created from a list:
[[ 2]
 [ 4]
 [ 6]
 [10]]

Basic Operations on a Python Vector

Having created a Vector, now let us perform some basic operations on these Vectors now!

Here is a list of the basic operations that can be performed on a Vector–

Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Dot Product, etc.

Let us begin!

1. Performing addition operation on a Python Vector

Below, we have performed Vector addition operation on the vectors.

The addition operation would take place in an element-wise manner i.e. element by element and further the resultant vector would have the same length as of the two additive vectors.

Syntax:

vector + vector

Example:

import numpy as np 

lst1 = [10,20,30,40,50] 
lst2 = [1,2,3,4,5]


vctr1 = np.array(lst1) 

vctr2= np.array(lst2) 


print("Vector created from a list 1:") 
print(vctr1) 
print("Vector created from a list 2:") 
print(vctr2) 

vctr_add = vctr1+vctr2
print("Addition of two vectors: ",vctr_add)

Output:

Vector created from a list 1:
[10 20 30 40 50]
Vector created from a list 2:
[1 2 3 4 5]
Addition of two vectors:  [11 22 33 44 55]

2. Performing Subtraction of two vectors

On similar lines, in subtraction as well, the element-wise fashion would be followed and further the elements of vector 2 will get subtracted from vector 1.

Let us have a look at it’s implementation!

import numpy as np 

lst1 = [10,20,30,40,50] 
lst2 = [1,2,3,4,5]

vctr1 = np.array(lst1) 

vctr2= np.array(lst2) 

print("Vector created from a list 1:") 
print(vctr1) 
print("Vector created from a list 2:") 
print(vctr2) 

vctr_sub = vctr1-vctr2
print("Subtraction of two vectors: ",vctr_sub)

Output:

Vector created from a list 1:
[10 20 30 40 50]
Vector created from a list 2:
[1 2 3 4 5]
Subtraction of two vectors:  [ 9 18 27 36 45]

3. Performing multiplication of two vectors

In a Vector multiplication, the elements of vector 1 get multiplied by the elements of vector 2 and the product vector is of the same length as of the multiplying vectors.

Let us try to visualize the multiplication operation:

x = [10,20] and y = [1,2] are two vectors. So the product vector would be v[ ],

v[0] = x[0] * y[0]
v[1] = x[1] * y[1]

Have a look at the below code!

import numpy as np 

lst1 = [10,20,30,40,50] 
lst2 = [1,2,3,4,5]

vctr1 = np.array(lst1) 

vctr2= np.array(lst2) 

print("Vector created from a list 1:") 
print(vctr1) 
print("Vector created from a list 2:") 
print(vctr2) 

vctr_mul = vctr1*vctr2
print("Multiplication of two vectors: ",vctr_mul)

Output:

Vector created from a list 1:
[10 20 30 40 50]
Vector created from a list 2:
[1 2 3 4 5]
Multiplication of two vectors:  [ 10  40  90 160 250]

4. Performing Vector division operation

In vector division, the resultant vector is the quotient values after carrying out division operation on the two vectors.

Consider the below example for a better understanding.

x = [10,20] and y = [1,2] are two vectors. So the resultant vector v would be,

v[0] = x[0] / y[0]
v[1] = x[1] / y[1]

Let us now implement the above concept.

Example:

import numpy as np 
 
lst1 = [10,20,30,40,50] 
lst2 = [10,20,30,40,50]
 
vctr1 = np.array(lst1) 
 
vctr2= np.array(lst2) 
 
print("Vector created from a list 1:") 
print(vctr1) 
print("Vector created from a list 2:") 
print(vctr2) 
 
vctr_div = vctr1/vctr2
print("Division of two vectors: ",vctr_div)

Output:

Vector created from a list 1:
[10 20 30 40 50]
Vector created from a list 2:
[10 20 30 40 50]
Multiplication of two vectors:  [ 1 1 1 1 1 ]

5. Vector Dot Product

In a vector dot product, we perform the summation of the product of the two vectors in an element-wise fashion.

Let us have a look at the below.

vector c = x . y = (x1 * y1 + x2 * y2)

Example:

import numpy as np 

lst1 = [10,20,30,40,50] 
lst2 = [1,1,1,1,1]


vctr1 = np.array(lst1) 

vctr2= np.array(lst2) 


print("Vector created from a list 1:") 
print(vctr1) 
print("Vector created from a list 2:") 
print(vctr2) 

vctr_dot = vctr1.dot(vctr2)
print("Dot product of two vectors: ",vctr_dot)

Output:

Vector created from a list 1:
[10 20 30 40 50]
Vector created from a list 2:
[1 1 1 1 1]
Dot product of two vectors: 150

Conclusion

By this, we have come to the end of this topic.

In order to have a deeper understanding about vectors, do try out creating a vector and performing the above mentioned operations and let us know your understanding in the comment box!

Feel free to comment below, in case you come across any question. For more such posts related to Python, Stay tuned and till then,

Happy Learning!! :)

Thanks for learning with the DigitalOcean Community. Check out our offerings for compute, storage, networking, and managed databases.

Learn more about our products

About the author(s)

See author profile

Category:

Tutorial

Tags:

Python

Python Advanced

While we believe that this content benefits our community, we have not yet thoroughly reviewed it. If you have any suggestions for improvements, please let us know by clicking the “report an issue“ button at the bottom of the tutorial.

Still looking for an answer?

Ask a question Search for more help

Was this helpful?

JournalDev

DigitalOcean Employee

• December 2, 2020

You have errors at 4. Performing Vector division operation There was mixed operator / and * The following example would have more sense. >>> lst1 = [10, 20, 30, 40, 50] >>> lst2 = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] >>> vctr1 = np.array(lst1) >>> vctr2 = np.array(lst2) >>> vctr_div1 = vctr1/vctr2 >>> vctr_div1 array([10., 10., 10., 10., 10.]) >>> vctr_div2 = vctr2/vctr1 >>> vctr_div2 array([0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 0.1]) >>> vctr_mul_div = vctr_div1*vctr_div2 >>> vctr_mul_div array([1., 1., 1., 1., 1.])

- Jarmo Lammi

JournalDev

DigitalOcean Employee

• December 2, 2020

Hi, would be interesting also the case of vector cross product There seems to be also numpy.cross I tried just it and found it doesn’t work with syntax similar to dot product. This will cause error: >>> alst = [4, 1] >>> blst = [-1, 4] >>> avctr = np.array(alst) >>> bvctr = np.array(blst) >>> avctr.cross(bvctr) Traceback (most recent call last): File “”, line 1, in AttributeError: ‘numpy.ndarray’ object has no attribute ‘cross’ However, this works giving only the sum of the squares, i.e the squares of the vector lengths: >>> cvtr = np.cross(avctr, bvctr) >>> cvtr array(17) Changing order of the vectors: >>> cvtr = np.cross(bvctr, avctr) >>> cvtr array(-17) One thing is still missing! How do you get the resulting vector, a 3D array[i, j, k]? It should be in this example the vectors [0, 0, 17] or [0, 0, -17], perpendicular to the vectors avctr and bvctr.

- Jarmo Lammi

JournalDev

DigitalOcean Employee

• September 25, 2021

In examples 1 and 2, why do you create vctr twice?

- Ged Toon